Overview

• The man, who identified himself as Barry, and his dog Bella were drifting in a rubber dinghy after the engine failed three days earlier.
• A red distress flare spotted at 6:30 pm on June 18 triggered deployment of an HM Coastguard rescue helicopter, lifeboats from Shoreham and Brighton, and rescue teams from Shoreham and Newhaven.
• By 7:30 pm rescuers had located them safe and well and brought them ashore near Brighton Pier.
• Barry told rescuers he found Bella in a migrant camp in France and was attempting to reach the UK when the engine broke down.
• Sir Keir Starmer has warned warmer weather may drive further crossings that are already more than 22 percent higher than by this point in 2024.