Shocking photos show a dangerously overcrowded boat with 60 migrants on board nearly sinking in the Channel this morning.
Eye-witnesses said it was ‘seconds from sinking’ in the shipping lane which would have caused the biggest crossing tragedy to date.
It was shadowed at a distance by the French Navy, which watched as it passed into British waters.
Mail Online was out in a boat this morning observing the crossings.
It is one of a string of crossings today, with around 800 estimated to be making their way across.
Out of those arriving today, many were young women. And were a range of nationalities, although several appeared to be from Vietnam and also Iran.
Over 21,000 migrants have arrived this year already and means well over 7,000 have made the journey since Labour won power.
Three boats have arrived in Dover, Kent, as of 10am, with at least nine small boats in total making the journey.
Eye-witnesses said the group this morning – which included freezing cold children aged three – were ‘hanging on for dear life’.
Drone photos and footage show the incredibly cramped conditions on board at the crossing which made its way across the Channel at around 7am.
They show the boat nearly sinking into the water.
One boatman who witnessed the crossing said: ‘I could not believe my eyes. It was disturbing.
‘They were clinging on for dear life. It was horrific. It was seconds from sinking.
‘It was seconds from 60 migrants potentially dying.
‘It would have been the biggest tragedy in the Channel so far.’
He said it was worrying seeing the French Navy shadow the boat.
He added: ‘The children were on the floor cramped in the middle. It was appalling to see.
‘What were the French Navy doing?
‘They only looked about three and they were on the floor. They looked terrified. Who would do that to a child?
‘And the French Navy were in the distance the whole time, clearly observing what was happening.
‘When will this madness end?’
Figures show 211 migrants in four boats reached Britain yesterday.
A further 77 were returned to Calais.