Calais migrants: French rescuers failed to help sinking boat - Published There's growing evidence that French rescue services failed to respond adequately to a migrant boat that sank in the Channel last November, with at least 33 people on board.Transcripts of emergency calls made to the French coastguard, seen by the BBC, suggest that desperate passengers were repeatedly told to call UK emergency services, despite being in French waters when they first requested help.Beneath the cliffs at Cap Gris-Nez, the waves continue to slosh against the rocks; the coastline worn to a fine point, jutting out into the sea.Quoting the leaked French police report, Le Monde says the UK authorities sent a rescue vessel to the scene - but that they also asked France to send its patrol boat, Le Flamant, because it was closer.The UK's Maritime Accident Investigation Branch, which is leading the British inquiry, confirmed in an interim report that some of the events leading to the disaster did take place in British waters."