The overcrowded boat, which capsized after leaving Veules-les-Roses in France, caught fire and triggered a rescue operation on Tuesday morning (August 4). Eastbourne’s all-weather RNLI lifeboat was launched at 6am to assist in the emergency response alongside British Border Security Command boats. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)French authorities confirmed 173 people were rescued and returned to Boulogne-sur-Mer, including 63 taken to France on British vessels. "This incident underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings. Arrivals so far in 2026 stands provisionally at 14,561, reflecting a 43 per cent decrease compared to the same time last year.