MP Rupert Lowe alerted the coastguard to potential migrants on a ship – who turned out to be a charity rowing crew.
The impartial Nice Yarmouth MP posted an image on social media on Thursday night time of a ship close to some wind generators off the Norfolk Coast, saying he had alerted the authorities.
He wrote dinghies have been coming into Nice Yarmouth, “RIGHT NOW”.
“If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure those individuals are deported,” he added.
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However the “dinghy” was really an ocean rowing boat crewed by ROW4MND, a crew of 4 trying to row from Land’s Finish to John O’Groats for motor neurone illness analysis.
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Rupert Lowe MP. Pic: PA
Mr Lowe, who was suspended from Reform UK in March, posted on Friday morning that it was a “false alarm” and was a ship of charity rowers, “thank goodness”.
He mentioned he would donate £1,000 to their charity “as a well done” – however warned individuals to “watch out for any real illegal migrants”.
“We received a huge number of urgent complaints from constituents – I make no apologies over being vigilant for my constituents. It is a national crisis,” he wrote.
“No mass deportations for the charity rowers, but we definitely need it for the illegal migrants!”
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The ROW4MND crew have been passing Nice Yarmouth on their strategy to John O’Groats. Pic: PA
Police wished to ship a ship to examine
It’s the first of 4 gruelling rows the crew will take over 4 years in an try to boost £57m for motor neurone illness analysis, impressed by the deaths of rugby gamers Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir from the situation.
Matthew Parker, Mike Bates, Aaron Kneebone and Liz Wardley mentioned the coastguard initially contacted them and requested if they might see a dinghy close by.
Ex-Royal Marine Mr Bates, a British document holder for rowing throughout the Atlantic solo, mentioned it quickly grew to become clear the coastguard was asking about their boat.
After the coastguard accepted they weren’t carrying migrants, they rowed on by means of the night time however hours later have been contacted once more by the coastguard as a result of the police had “asked if they could send a lifeboat out to check who we were”.
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The crew leaving Newlyn Harbour in Cornwall final week after beginning their problem once more. Pic: PA
‘I’ve not been mistaken for a migrant earlier than’
A pal then forwarded Mr Lowe’s publish, which Mr Bates mentioned was “a moment of light relief”.
“We found it hilarious. I’ve not been mistaken for a migrant before,” he mentioned.
“The best comment was the one asking where the Royal Navy were when you need them. I’m a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy were on the boat.
“Nevertheless it was virtually like a vigilante-style, individuals following us down the seaside.
“They hadn’t twigged that we were parallel to the shore for hours and not trying to land.”
Gruelling four-year problem
The crew set off from Land’s Finish on 25 July, heading north, however unhealthy climate compelled them to cease, and so they determined to return to Land’s Finish and begin once more, heading anticlockwise across the UK.
Subsequent 12 months, the crew is hoping to row from John O’Groats to Land’s Finish, then from California to Hawaii in 2027 and New York to London in 2028.
Mr Bates mentioned: “We’re rowing for hope, we’re rowing to find a cure, and hopefully we’ll raise £57m – we certainly will if MPs keep talking about us. Maybe Rupert will give us a donation.”
