A pair of RNLI lifeboats from the Isle of Wight have been involved in the interception of a migrant boat, with more than 150 people onboard, in the English Channel this afternoon (Sunday).
It was at around 10:35 this morning that both Bembridge RNLI and Yarmouth RNLI were tasked the English Channel – around halfway between the Island and Cherbourg.
Island Echo understands that the vessel in question left France overnight, heading toward the Isle of Wight.
Several French lifeboats and a border patrol ship were alerted to the launch in the early hours of this morning, reports GB News.
When the RNLI arrived on scene at around 12:00, it was quickly established that the situation was much more serious than first feared, with more than 150 migrants onboard the dinghy.
Subsequently, the assistance of a HM Coastguard plane and helicopter – as well as Weymouth RNLI – was requested.
It remains unclear as to whether the Isle of Wight was the desired destination of the boat.
The incident remains ongoing.
UPDATE @ 17:09 – Both Bembridge’s All Weather Lifeboat and Yarmouth’s All Weather Lifeboat have been spotted in the Solent.
The lifeboats are now taking all of the rescued migrants to Langstone Harbour, near Portsmouth.
It is understood that, initially, the plan was to take the 160 onboard to Portsmouth Harbour, and later the Port of Southampton.
However, the decision has now been taken to transfer the 160 individuals ashore at Langstone, away from the more populated areas – and the cameras.
UPDATE @ 19:00 – Local politicians, including Conservative’s Joe Robertson MP and Reform’s Councillor James Whelan, have responded to today’s news.
Read their thoughts at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/mp-to-question-home-office-after-migrant-boat-intercepted-by-island-lifeboats/.
UPDATE 21:20 – The large-scale operation continues with migrants still being unloaded from Bembridge and Yarmouth lifeboats.
Protestors are now blocking the migrant coaches from leaving Portsmouth.
Read the latest at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/150-migrants-brought-ashore-by-isle-of-wight-lifeboats-major-operation-continues/.
Push the scum back to where they come from. That will increase donations to the RNLI.
As suggested it was mid channel, why did they not just take them back to cherbourg.
Because France won’t take them back. They did before Brexit and the migrants knew it and didn’t bother trying. Fact is BREXIT caused this problem.
That is untrue and they should have been returned
GB News, eh?
And your point is??? At least they reported it, unlike the BBC, SKY, ITV or CHANNEL 4.
No doubt the first of many, time to reopen camphill
We only have 3 patrol cutters and two of them seem to be under constant repair in Cowes. So the government force the RLNI to go.
Good to read Island Echo calling them Illegal, for that is what they are.They were not “intercepted” by the RNLI, as the RNLI does not have the authority.
I expect that the RNLI will bring them “ashore” at the nearest point which would be Ventnor Harbour.
Plenty of spaces for them at the Ventnor Towers Hotel.
Vodafone will be pleased to have more customers.
So it intercepted it but where did they then take them? Onto the island, onto Dover? where ??
why does to be the uk,
Eastney Beach
It says so in the artical!
should have left them – they arent wanted
I see the French didn’t send any rescue boats. How much did this cost the British tax payers….
You want to know how much of our tax went on this? I’ll tell you, nothing. Literally zero. RNLI is not funded by the tax payer.
It is funded by the public which is rescuing people in difficulty at sea.These migrants were not rescued,they were taxied!
Unfortunately this was tipping point for me i have cancelled my monthly donation to RNLI. Was a very hard choice to make one that I did’nt do lightly but I can not in good conseince fund people delibrately putting their lifes in harms way to leave the ”safe” shores of france. I do not want them in our country and am not going to encourage it by giving finacial support. This is my personnel reason but respect others that continue to if their believes support that.
Is English your first language?
Yes english also I’m dyslexic so my apoligises for suffering a medical condition. I was called thick through out my chikdhood school days (80’s) so thank you for re-enforcing what the teachers said to me and congratultions on you skills in the englush langauge.
It would appear to me that you are the more sensible thinker,absolutely!
Do you think lifeboat crew should pick and choose who’s life they save
Did the boat capsize?
In what way were they saving lives?
If you supported the RNLI in the first place then your justification for stopping is absolutely nonsense. Your anger is misplaced. The RNLI do as they always have, save lives at sea. Take away their funding, then what? Let the swimmers drown? Those sailors can pray? That kayaker can swivel?
Well I hope neither you nor any of your family or friends will ever go near or on the water EVER again! Such a shame you’re so very narrow minded and bigoted!
The Government doesn’t have enough patrol boats. The Tories cut them. So the Coastguard INSTRUCT the RLNI to send lifeboats they are TOLD TO GO. Under the terms of their charter they can’t refuse to save lives. You are punishing them for something they have no control over. Before BREXIT we could just send them back. Now we can’t. If you voted for Fararge you voted for this mess. So suck it up!
Just a reminder that it was a democratic majority Vote by the People of this Country, a Referendum, that decided Brexit and it was the failure and lack of Will of the Tories to successfully carry it through. Nigel wasn’t in Power so was unable to do so.
It was actually the work of Labour and the House of Lords to block every attempt by the Tories to find a suitable and safe way to process and determine the geniune refugees from among the multitude of fakefugees!It has been adequately determined that perhaps only 1% are genuine refugees and they blocked the Rwanda innitiative which had started working, because the number of crossings had started coming down.Fakefugees want Britain and not Rwanda even for processing.If you are a geniune refugee,you would not fear going to Rwanda untill your case had been heard!
So your answer to being upset over humans ensuring other humans are safe, is to remove your own funds that helps towards keeping even more people safe? Do you just not want to see people live? It seems you would prefer to see as many people as possible drowning at sea rather than allow desperate people to move here?
Always remember, you didn’t earn the right to be British, you were simply lucky to be born here. That is the only difference between yourself and migrants in this country.
How many of the 6 billion third worlders would you like to see here?And how many are you taking in your part of the country?
I cancelled my subscription a long time ago when they were talking about closing down the East Cowes Lifeboat Centre.
At least the island crews took them to the mainland rather than landing them here!
The Government doesn’t have enough patrol boats. The Tories cut them. So the Coastguard INSTRUCT the RLNI to send lifeboats they are TOLD TO GO. Under the terms of their charity charter they can’t refuse to save lives if sent by the Coadtguard You are all punishing the RLNI for something they have no control over. Before BREXIT we could just send them back. We had access to their names and asylum status in France if they had applied for asylum anywhere in the EU we simply sent them back. Now we can’t. Because BREXIT means we have no access to information in France So If you voted for Fararge or BREXIT you voted for this mess. So stop complaining and suck it up!
I stopped my donations to the RNLI when they started ferrying immigrants to our country instead of France. I hp[e people’s take heed and do the same.
I have stopped my monthly direct debit , will never support the RNLI all the time they help bring in illegals .
You were never a member in the first place, you fool
Here we go, no safety for women and children
Great, now they are trying to land here on the island. I bet bungling burnham will be oh so quiet about this as will the waste of space that is quigley.
Little Dicky will fill his nappy if he has to stand up to Big And and everyone wonders why the council is approving HMOs in Ryde.
Maybe that is the excuse they need to build a processing
centre on the island.
Just don’t bring them back here
Thank you to the amazing volunteers and staff of our RNLI. Another donation is on its way.
Saving lives at sea is not only required by SOLAS and UNCLOS, but is also a moral imperative.
War, famine and climate change will all fuel irregular migration in the future. We need to change our approach to it.
Demonising those who seek to improve their own chance of survival is a deeply concerning and ugly trait.
I sincerely hope that survivors of today’s incident are treated with dignity, kindness and humanity.
Very well put, the sheer lack of knowledge in some commentators is staggering.
Langstone Harbour is ON Hayling Island, far away from Portsmouth and the thousand of local prying eyes/cameras.
This scumbag Liebore government will put them up at The Ferryboat Inn, or Sinah Warren Holiday Park, having first come to an eye watering financial “incentive” for the landlords.
Apparently there is now a new “branch” of Care For Calais in Cherbourg, so the little darlings don’t have so far to travel.
RNLI left the Isle of Wight with just minimal cover while they went out to “rescue” way outside our area.
Not a penny will I pay ever again to Yarmouth Lifeboat or indeed RNLI as a whole.
Phew thank goodness arrivals are down 40% thanks to Labour.
This is too close for comfort and like another poster on here ive withdrawn my support fir the RNLI these people DELIBERATELY put themselves at risk and my donations were meant for those who accidentally put themselves at risk in the sea. I think the vast majority wants this ridiculous debacle stopped immediately. I most certainly do not want these men anywhere near my family and I do not apologise for my feeling this way. ENOUGH NOW
Ask yourself a question why are people against these
poor people!
They are not coming to the UK for the fun of it
they are risking their lives on such journeys.
If their countries were not obliviated they would have stayed
in their own countries.
Why don’t these “poor people” seek asylum in the other safe Countries that they pass through?? They put their own lives at risk!!! They are ILLEGAL Immigrant’s
Wake up
Think the worst part of this story is this totally avoidable situation is diminishing the resources of the rnli to look after the Solent.
Sorry i have cancelled my direct debit to RNLI i am not contributing to bring illegal immigrants to UK
takeback france we do not want them
Next boat load will see Sandown and turn round hopefully!
I hope they are not heading here we have nothing ourselves.
They should be pulled back to France where they are in a safe place anyway.
They only want to get to England for all the benefits that are handed out here.
We can’t get a GP appointment, Dentist, the only hospital here is at breaking point. Not enough police. No social care for the elderly.
Poor schools.
AND the towns taken over by foreigners.
Don’t come here when you are already safe in France!!!!
FARAGE will sort it.
Come on REFORM get them all sent back to where they came from.
There is a LEGAL route to take.
We don’t want boat loads of men of a certain age on this Island.
Not intercepted, escorted. The RNLzi are complicit in people smuggling. I for one will never give them another penny
I see the Daily Mail Wetherspoons warriors are here in numbers, Dole and PiP claimants worried about people taking the jobs they refuse do to. Focus instead on the big companies not paying their tax dues.
The Government doesn’t have enough patrol boats. The Tories cut them. So the Coastguard INSTRUCT the RLNI to send lifeboats they are TOLD TO GO. Under the terms of their charity charter they can’t refuse to save lives if sent by the Coadtguard You are all punishing the RLNI for something they have no control over. Before BREXIT we could just send them back. We had access to their names and asylum status in France if they had applied for asylum anywhere in the EU we simply sent them back. Now we can’t. Because BREXIT means we have no access to information in France So If you voted for Fararge or BREXIT you voted for this mess. So stop complaining and suck it up!
Be like Australia and tell them to xxxx off!!
We don’t want them here, there’s enough here already! Took them to Portsmouth!?!?
send them back to bloody France let them do the deed!
Why can’t the government and all the leftist fools see that our once beautiful country is being invaded. There is a very seriously high amount of civil unrest at the moment, there WILL be a civil war soon. AIM HIGH. VOTE LOWE. RESTORE BRITAIN.
Your’e right about that. Civil unrest is taking place and the bloody government is too blind to see it. I think that riots are going to kick off in the near future about all of these illegals and they will get caught up in the cross fire.
This are island back in the day wot I was reading about are island heritage and hostory and thinking of when the French came and the man will the silver bow sent them packing we need too round up are men again before they do it again as the French don’t really care they have tyed it them self’s
Utterly disgusting, the French who we are paying millions push the scum over to us AND the RNLI. Funded by British contributors go out and fetch them back like loyal little puppy dogs. You’ve lost me forever, these scum are bleeding us dry & the government, from whatever persuasion is complicit in it. Time for the public to stand up & speak out.
WHY is our Government allowing this to happen ? They could if they wanted to or do they not care about us ? Making our quality of life & us all poor, is it just me or can they not see how overcrowded we absolutely are !!!!!!!!
Mmm…island Echo – your report here does not say exactly WHY the Isle of Wight Lifeboats were suddenly called upon for this task? – and also sent as you state “half-way across the English Channel to Cherbourg”…Were the Migrant Boats actually in-trouble and sinking – were people actually in the water? Or were the IOW LIFEBOATS EFFECTIVELY “standing-in” for our UK Border Patrol and/or our Royal Navy Ships…It would just be interesting to know the background to this sudden Lifeboat Call-Out? – and on a Sunday too?! What about the total Fuel Cost – and for not one but two of our Lifeboats – which also means that they and their Crews were effectively taken “Out of Service” for any other Emergencies locally, around the Island – for the best part of the whole day – I presume?!
Mmm…island Echo – your report here does not say exactly WHY the Isle of Wight Lifeboats were suddenly called upon for this task? – and also sent as you state “around halfway” (ie. across the English Channel) “between the Island and Cherbourg”…Were the Migrant Boats actually in-trouble and sinking? – were people actually in the water? Or were the IOW LIFEBOATS EFFECTIVELY “standing-in” for our UK Border Patrol and/or our Royal Navy Ships…It would just be interesting to know the background to this sudden Lifeboat Call-Out? – and on a Sunday too?! What about the total Fuel Cost? – and for not one but two of our Lifeboats – which also means that they and their Crews were effectively taken “Out of Service” for any other Sea Emergencies locally, around the Island – for the best part of the whole day – I presume?!
another 40 million of taypayers money last week given to France and these illgal rapists and murdering 3rd world scum still keep coming….
It is an illegal invasion and the government is following the lead of the last corrupt wankers and letting them in….. we must resist this at all levels….
Thank you to the amazing volunteers and staff of our RNLI. Another donation is on its way.
Saving lives at sea is not only required by SOLAS and UNCLOS, but is also a moral imperative.
War, famine and climate change will all fuel irregular migration in the future. We need to change our approach to it.
Demonising those who seek to improve their own chance of survival is a deeply concerning and ugly trait.
I sincerely hope that survivors of today’s incident are treated with dignity, kindness and humanity.
They took them to Eastney, which is in Portsmouth. Get your facts right before printing such nonsense.
Another 160 or so potential rapists, terrorists and murderers….. prove me wrong – produce the stats that say otherwise.
Since 2008 and that traitor Blair sold us out, we have been invaded at the taxpayers expense…… fact check that….. Fabian socialist traitors…..and a funded left wing idiocy that has tainted the English way of life….. well done Germany! AFD
why have theNavy????
Not fit for purpose….
Can`t even stop an inflatable – a taxpayer funded joke.