A migrant and his small dog have been rescued after spending three days adrift in a rubber dinghy in the English Channel. The man, who identified himself as Barry and is believed to be from Afghanistan, was picked up off the coast of East Sussex on Wednesday night after firing a red distress flare.
The dramatic rescue began around 6:30 p.m. when emergency services spotted the flare and launched a large-scale operation. Rescue teams, including lifeboats from Shoreham and Brighton, a Coastguard helicopter, and shore teams from Newhaven, were deployed to locate the vessel.
Barry and his dog, which he called Bella and described as a Lancashire Heeler, were found safe but exhausted. Barry told rescuers that he had found Bella in a migrant camp in France, and they had been inseparable since. It’s believed the engine on the dinghy failed shortly after departure, leaving them stranded at sea without direction for three days.
A spokesman for the Coastguard confirmed: “HM Coastguard has responded to reports of a person in the water in waters between Brighton Marina and Pier. A man was located safe and well in a vessel that had reportedly experienced engine issues.”
After being brought ashore at approximately 7:30 p.m., Barry and Bella were handed over to Border Force officials for processing. Sussex Police also assisted during the rescue, confirming the pair were found unharmed and are now under official care.
This heartwarming rescue shines a light on the human and emotional side of the ongoing Channel migrant crisis, which continues to escalate despite government crackdowns. The number of small boat arrivals in the UK this year is already over 22% higher than during the same period in 2024.
According to the latest Home Office figures, 16,317 migrants have crossed the Channel between January and June 14, compared to 13,489 by the end of June last year. Warmer weather conditions have made the journey more attractive in recent weeks, with several large groups reaching UK shores.
On Monday, 228 people crossed in four boats. On Saturday, another 134 arrived in two boats. Friday saw more than 900 migrants land in 14 boats, the highest number in several weeks. Even in smaller numbers, the crossings have continued daily, with 52 people reaching the coast last Thursday and 400 on Wednesday in six small boats.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer recently acknowledged that the Channel crisis is worsening. As summer approaches, authorities are bracing for an even greater influx of small boat crossings in the weeks ahead.
Barry’s case is a powerful reminder that behind every statistic is a human story—sometimes even one that includes a loyal companion like Bella.