French authorities have rescued 22 migrants who got into trouble while trying to cross the Channel.
The group, which included a woman and a child, was found roughly two miles off the coast of Dunkirk at about 1.30am on Sunday.
Authorities were alerted to the migrants’ plight by a ferry just after midnight and sent out search and rescue teams.
They were safely recovered and taken back to Dunkirk on board the RIAS Bee Languedoc.
Earlier this week, Boris Johnson warned migrants not to attempt the Channel crossing, saying: “We will send you back.”
The prime minister said: “Clearly the most important thing is to stop them coming across from France so we are working very closely with the French authorities.
“The point I would just make to people thinking of making this journey – one, it is very hazardous, you may think the weather looks great but it’s a very, very dangerous thing to do.
“The second thing is – we will send you back. The UK should not be regarded as a place where you could automatically come and break the law by seeking to arrive illegally.”
His comments came after dozens of migrants were rescued off the British south coast on Thursday.
One witness told Sky News dozens of people were picked up and taken to Dover, in Kent.
The Home Office confirmed 37 migrants were rescued after four small boats were intercepted.
It said Home Secretary Priti Patel would be raising the issue with her French counterpart.
