96 Rescued from English Channel After Dinghy Engine Fails Off Le Touquet

Ninety-six people were pulled from the English Channel on Monday after the engine on their rubber dinghy failed shortly after leaving Le Touquet.

The French coastguard was already following the dinghy when the motor cut out and dropped into the water, AOL reported. Around 30 people ended up in the Channel, some struggling in the currents, the Morning Star said. Four were lifted by helicopter. Six more came up by lifeboat. All 96 were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer.

August has brought a steady run of large crossings and rescues in the Channel, with major incidents every few days as summer weather holds. On 4 August, 157 people were rescued from a burning dinghy in a joint French and British operation. Six days later, a record 230 migrants crossed to Dover in a single boat.

MarineRadar recorded 110 unique devices tracking the Folkestone and Hythe area in the past 48 hours.