Good Morning Britain interrupted its regular broadcasting this morning as hosts Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins delivered some “devastating” news.
The ITV hosts shared that a baby has died after a boat carrying migrants ran into difficulties in the Channel, according to French authorities.
Charlotte explained that “more than 60 people” were understood to have been rescued, however the baby sadly drowned. The presenter said: “Tragic breaking news that we’ve got here.
“Yet another death in the Channel, this one a baby. How long will it be before there is control of the situation and before we won’t see deaths like this happening?”
Work and Pensions Minister Alison McGovern joined the presenters on the ITV show, via video link, as she described the news as “devastating”.
She said that she was “only just” finding out the news herself, adding: “It’s devastating to hear what has happened and it’s just heartbreaking to think of a baby dying in that way. It’s devastating.”
The MP seemed somewhat tearful as she continued: “Obviously like everybody we want to see progress on stopping this awful, awful trade and people that are trafficking. It’s horrendous.
“We’ve moved quickly to appoint a new commander and do as we said that we would, to work with nearby countries to improve the situation.”
Ms McGovern shared that there is a “sense of desperation” after hearing the “horrific” news about the death of the baby.
Charlotte asked how long the measures will take to be put in place as the longer it takes, the more lives will be lost. The politician agreed saying: “Yes, that’s right.
“And it makes it all the more important that we get on with that work to undermine that dreadful trade. I know that people will be anxious to make progress on this given the consequences for human life, it’s absolutely devastating.”
She went on to say that the Home Secretary will be saying more about the issue in parliament as she continued: “I understand people’s absolute desire, which I share, to stop this happening.”
The tragedy unfolded off the coast of the French town of Wissant on Thursday night, French maritime authorities confirmed.
Four ships, including a French Navy vessel, and a helicopter were involved in the operation to help those on board the stricken craft.
A statement from French maritime authorities said: “On the evening of Thursday, October 17, the departure of a migrant boat off the coast of Wissant was reported to the Gris-Nez regional operational surveillance and rescue centre (CROSS).
“Once on site, the resources noted that the boat, which was heavily loaded, was in difficulty and that some of the people were in the water. The resources then put their semi-rigid boats in the water and began to recover the people in difficulty.”
The statement added that a boat named Abeille Normandie took 65 people on board, and another vessel, the Minck, recovered an “an unconscious infant” who was transferred aboard the Abeille Normandie .
It added paramedics from the helicopter boarded the Abeille Normandie but that sadly the child was “declared dead by the dispatching doctor”.