A MIGRANT was rescued with his dog after surviving for three days in a rubber dinghy adrift in The Channel.
The Afghan man, who gave his name as Barry, told rescuers he found pet Bella in a French refugee camp while fleeing the Taliban.
An Afghan migrant told rescuers he found pet dog Bella in a French refugee camp while fleeing the Taliban[/caption]
They set sail on the dangerous 21-mile journey earlier this week but the boat’s engine failed before they reached Britain.
Emergency services spotted a red distress flare fired at sea around 6.30pm on Wednesday off the coast of Brighton, East Sussex.
A HM Coastguard helicopter helped bring Barry and Bella to shore an hour later alongside rescue teams and RNLI lifeboats.
They were met by Sussex Police officers who transferred them to Border Force.
The dog, believed to be a Lancashire Heeler, is the sixth pooch known to have entered the UK by small boat.
Others were a mixed breed, Jack Russell, pomeranian, Yorkshire terrier and chihuahua, as previously revealed by The Sun.
Due to not having correct documentation, they are quarantined for up to four months to prevent spreading infectious diseases like rabies.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Police assisted HM Coastguard following a report of a man in a boat off the coast of Brighton on Wednesday.
“The man and a dog were safely brought to shore and passed to Border Force officials.”
A HM Coastguard spokesman added: “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.”
