Asylum seeker who survived deadly boat sinking in Channel would risk his life again to reach UK

4 September 2024, 17:05 | Updated: 4 September 2024, 20:48

An asylum seeker who survived Tuesday's fatal small boat sinking in the Channel has told Sky News he would risk his life again to get to the UK.

The 25-year-old Eritrean man, called 'Daoud', said it was the seventh time he had tried to reach Britain, but despite the dangers, he insisted he would make another attempt.

He told correspondent John Sparks that "if you don't have any choice, you take any risk".

Daoud said he was on board a migrant boat when the bottom of the vessel 'ripped open' and it capsized off the French coast.

Twelve people, including a pregnant woman and six children, died in the tragedy, while up to 65 people were rescued near Cap Gris-Nez.

Ten women and girls were among those who perished.

Asked if he had tried to get to the UK, he said: "Yes. Seven times. I couldn't succeed and I'm still doing my best. I paid once."

Daoud added: "I don't have any choice. I want to get a resident permit, so I have freedom, so that I can work."

But asked if Tuesday's tragedy had put him off, he admitted he was a little conflicted, saying "it's difficult to decide. If I could go to any other country in Europe, and get a resident permit..."

"You would stay there?" he was asked.

"Yeah, [if] a country gave me a resident permit, I would stay. The problem is currently in Europe many people are getting rejected."

Asked if he would think about returning to Eritrea, he said: "It is well known in Eritrea, our government is a dictatorship.

"We cannot stay there safely. They take us to conflict zones. That's why we flee to Europe. There is no religious freedom, or freedom of speech."

He told Sky News that the boat was two hours from shore, when the "overloaded" vessel "ripped" and "everybody was sinking. I tried a little swimming... I survived".

"We thought that we are lost, there was no hope for life, but, thanks to God, we survived. We are here today.

"I did not see [people drowning]. I was totally lost because of panic."

Asked if he was "just thinking about your own survival?", he said: "Definitely."

Daoud said: "I was trying to swim and they [rescuers] arrived and threw life jackets. They arrived immediately, [after] seven to 10 minutes."

It was too late for some, but he said the rescuers "tried their best. They did their best".

Read more:
Small boat crossings haven't fallen - but real immigration story is elsewhere
Labour plan 'not likely to stop small boats'

Home Office figures show 317 people made the Channel crossing in five boats on Tuesday, taking the provisional total in 2024 so far to 21,720.

That is 3% higher than this time last year (21,086) but 19% lower than at the same point in 2022 (26,692), the Press Association news agency said.

The latest tally means 8,146 arrivals have been recorded since Labour won the general election and Sir Keir Starmer walked into Number 10 in early July.

(c) Sky News 2024: Asylum seeker who survived deadly boat sinking in Channel would risk his life again to reach UK