A migrant family almost drowned while trying to board a small boat as ten French police officers watched from the shore without intervening.
The mother, father and young children were amongst asylum seekers wading through strong currents trying to reach the dinghy near Gravelines, approximately 15 miles east of Calais.
The family, thought to be from Eritrea, fought against the waves but failed to reach the vessel in time.
They eventually returned to the beach in silence, exhausted from their efforts in the dangerous waters whilst French officers stood nearby observing the scene unfold.
Asked why they would not intervene in such clearly dangerous circumstances, one police officer told The Sun: "It's difficult."
The French guards, standing just feet away from the migrants, wore riot helmets with some carrying shields and pepper spray. They watched through binoculars as the family battled the currents.
PICTURED: French border guards stand and watch migrants cross the Channel on May 31
PA
After recovering on the beach, the family indicated they would attempt to board the vessel again.
The boat was reportedly charging as much as £1,200 per person for passage to Britain.
When questioned about whether they would try again, a boy believed to be eight years old or younger admitted: "Yes".
The boat had launched before 5am further up the coast before arriving to collect waiting migrants who emerged from nearby sand dunes.
Men scrambled aboard first, followed by women and families with children.
LATEST AS BRITAIN FACES MIGRATION CHAOS:
Photos later emerged of the 'asylum seekers' arriving at Dover harbour
PA
One man struggled to keep his head above water as he desperately reached towards the dinghy. Others held onto each other whilst trying to keep their children above the surf.
One officer watched the inflatable whilst four others stood chatting behind. Another filmed the incident on his phone while a colleague inhaled from a vape.
French law enforcement have claimed it is too risky to act once boats are in the water, meaning officers watched as the danger unfolded.
The overloaded boat's engine initially appeared broken or insufficient to move the vessel. It eventually departed, leaving approximately ten people stranded without places aboard.
A suspected smuggler who had steered the boat jumped out and returned to shore, abandoning passengers to navigate the treacherous crossing alone. He led the stranded group back to their makeshift camp after police had already left the scene.
Migrant crisis: Key factsGB NEWSThe smuggler became aggressive when approached by reporters.
Later in the day, GB News revealed that as many as 400 small boat migrants crossed the Channel, taking the total number of arrivals to more than 15,000 this year alone.
The last of Wednesday's illegal arrivals happened just after 2.30pm, when the Border Force vessel Typhoon docked at Dover harbour with a further 82 migrants on board.
People-smugglers took advantage of a slight improvement in weather conditions a to launch multiple small boats from French beaches.
Six made it to UK waters, bringing the total number of migrants who have made the illegal crossing so far this year to 15,212.
Yesterday was the biggest single day of arrivals since May 31 - when French authorities again were spotted standing idly and watching the boats surge across to Britain.
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