‘No foot-dragging’, warns chair of inquiry into 27 Channel deaths

Inquiry set up after report found rescue attempts beset by confusion and poor communication between UK and France

The chair of an inquiry into the deadliest Channel disaster for more than 40 years has warned that he expects “full co-operation” and no “foot-dragging” from authorities and individuals as he investigates events leading to at least 27 deaths.

In an opening statement, Sir Ross Cranston said the inquiry would examine the events of 24 November 2021 and initially attempt to establish who the deceased were and when, where and in what circumstances they died before attempting to establish what further lessons could be learned.