One man is feared to have been lost at sea after a search which rescued two others had to be called off.
The trio were travelling in a small boat off the Essex coast before Border Force and the coastguard launched the rescue in response to the ‘urgent issue’ on Monday afternoon.
The rescued men are both Somali nationals and it is understood that they are now being processed within immigration rules.
But an ‘extensive search’ for the third man – also involving the RNLI, a plane and helicopter off the coast of Harwich – was called off at around 2pm on Tuesday.
The Home Office branded the incident a ‘reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats’ and again said it is ‘determined to do everything we can to prevent people dying in the Channel’.
A spokesperson for the department added: ‘We want to thank those who responded to this incident and who continue to work tirelessly to protect lives at sea whilst securing our border.
‘While the investigation into this incident continues, it is a reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats and the callous disregard for life shown by the criminal gangs.
‘We are determined to do everything we can to prevent people dying in the Channel.
‘The Government’s New Plan for Immigration, and ongoing work with the French Government, will help us crack down on organised criminals and reform the asylum system to deter people from attempting these deadly crossings.’
A Harwich lifeboat crew launched at 4.05pm on Monday, before returning and launching again at 11.35pm, before going back to shore at 8am on Tuesday.
But Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, described the Government’s approach as ‘cruel and ineffective’.
He said: ‘Tragically, this is not the first time somebody has gone missing attempting the dangerous journey across the seas to Britain in search of safety.
‘The sad reality is that unless this Government fundamentally changes its approach by committing to an ambitious expansion of safe routes for those in need of protection, the lives of ordinary men, women and children will be at risk of being lost in this way.
‘Every day, people are forced to flee their home through no fault of their own and we must do more to make the journey safer.
‘This Government’s cruel and ineffective plans of seeking to punish or push away those who try and find safety in our country must end immediately.’
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said a Coastguard helicopter and a plane were sent to the incident, adding: ‘HM Coastguard has been co-ordinating a search and rescue response to an incident off Essex, working with Border Force and other partners.’
The RNLI said its lifeboats from Harwich and Walton and Frinton were involved in a search and rescue operation to a suspected person in the water.
‘All have been stood down by HM Coastguard, who are continuing to co-ordinate the search with Border Force’, it explained in a statement.
On Tuesday, UK authorities rescued or intercepted 145 people in five incidents, while French authorities intercepted five events, preventing 137 people from reaching the UK, the Home Office said.
On Sunday, UK authorities rescued or intercepted 29 people and there were no French interceptions, the department added.
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