HMS SEVERN

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At least fpour migrants died, 43 rescued in boat accident off Kent

At least four migrants have died after a rubber boat with around 50 people on board capsized in the English Channel in the morning of Dec 14, causing a major SAR operation near Kent by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency involving the UK Coastguard, the French and British Navy and an air ambulance as well as the RNLI and other assets. 43 castaways were rescued. Searches were going to continue all day but rescuers were no longer looking were survivors, given the freezing temperature of the water. The migrant boat got into difficulties shortly before 3 a.m. As well as an HM Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter vessels at the scene included the Royal Navy patrol boat HMS 'Severn', the HMS 'Blaze', HMS 'Trumpeter', the French patrol boat 'Kermorvan' as well as two fishing vessels 'La Perouse' and 'La Souveraine'. The HM Coastguard was coordinating the response and have sent Dover, Dungeness, Hastings and Ramsgate RNLI lifeboats and Deal, Dungeness and Folkestone coastguard rescue teams, along with the coastguard area commander. HM Coastguard helicopters from Lydd and Lee on Solent and one from the French Navy were involved. South East Coast Ambulance and Kent Police and an air ambulance were involved as well.