[Portfolio] Migrants, traces

[Bruno Schroder]

When I retired, in 2021, we were looking for a family home where we could enjoy a different atmosphere than our garden.  The Opal Coast, with its special light and long uncrowded beaches, seemed like the ideal place. We easily found a house in Ambleteuse, a small, quiet seaside town and we've been going there regularly for 3 years now.
The long beaches, nature reserves, many hectares of protected dunes and the light of the Côte d'Opale fit in well with my current interest in biodiversity, photography and family holidays.

Last year, 13 people died on these beaches. A further 2 bodies washed ashore.

[Bruno Schroder]

Ambleteuse is very close to the UK. From home, it's easier to pick up BBC Radio than France Inter. In fine weather, Dover is visible on the horizon, and sometimes even Dungeness. 
With dunes to hide in while waiting for the smugglers to inflate the boats and launch them, Ambleteuse and the neighboring towns are ideal starting points for trying to reach England.

[Bruno Schroder]

At high tide, in fine weather, with no wind and calm seas, it is not unusual to see 60 people trying to board an inflatable boat designed for 10. They drop anything they don't need for the crossing, such as blankets or baby nappies, or anything that might prevent them from swimming if they fall overboard: shoes and, despite the cold, warm clothes. They walk in the water or swim to reach the boat and try to climb the slippery rubber wall. This process can be fatal, especially for children and babies. The water is cold and hypothermia strikes quickly. Some have life jackets, others pool floats, but most have nothing to help them in the water.

[Bruno Schroder]

Once the boat is full, it heads for another beach from where the smugglers depart, and the crossing begins.
If they are lucky, they will reach the British coast 5 or 6 hours later. If not, they may be rescued by patrol boats, if spotted early enough, or they may die. In 2024, at least 75 people died trying to reach the UK from France. The exact number is not known, as a further 17 bodies washed ashore as a result of unattended fatalities.

[Bruno Schroder]

And when you walk the beach, you find what they've left behind.

[Bruno Schroder]

.

[Bruno Schroder]

Remains fading in the sand or ending in the trash

[Fons Baerken]

At high tide, in fine weather, with no wind and calm seas, it is not unusual to see 60 people trying to board an inflatable boat designed for 10. They drop anything they don't need for the crossing, such as blankets or baby nappies, or anything that might prevent them from swimming if they fall overboard: shoes and, despite the cold, warm clothes. They walk in the water or swim to reach the boat and try to climb the slippery rubber wall. This process can be fatal, especially for children and babies. The water is cold and hypothermia strikes quickly. Some have life jackets, others pool floats, but most have nothing to help them in the water.

They are not stopped, are they not?! Europe is lost!

[John Geerts]

Very impressive documentary shots, Bruno

[Ashlandish]

Very much appreciate this, Bruno. Fine, neutral presentation. Let’s hope humanity is not lost.

[Ann]

Photo Journalism at its finest Bruno.

[Thomas Stellwag]

Very much appreciate this, Bruno. Fine, neutral presentation. Let’s hope humanity is not lost.

+1, it is something we should not forget

[Øivind Tøien]

+1, it is something we should not forget

+2, a very special journalistic documentation.

[Joost Bollens]

+2, a very special journalistic documentation.

+3, Heartbreaking, it leaves me speechless

[Bruno Schroder]

Thank you all for the kind comments.
Humanity is not lost, Thomas. The region is unambiguously far right with deputies from a political party with a strong anti-immigrants program, but when an event like this happen, I only hear compassion, even from those very vocal against migrants.