"They lent us money because they sympathised with our poverty. Li said: "I wanted to get justice for those who died. I heard it a lot that month, during two visits to the province to interview some of the families of the cockle pickers who had just died at Morecambe. Some 30 cockle pickers set out at 4 pm. On the evening of February 5, 2004, 23 men and women lost their lives after . [9][1], At the subsequent hearing, British cocklers returning to shore on the same evening were reported to have attempted to warn the Chinese group by tapping their watches and trying to speak with them. Yet many of the underlying causes, and especially the role of gangmasters, remain unresolved. A tribute to the Morecambe Bay Chinese cockle pickers and the talent of Christy Moore. But we quickly ran out of things to eat so I had to start working again. I guess he is also the poorest and least educated. The organisation was set up to protect vulnerable workers in the shell fish, agriculture, food and food packaging labour markets but MPs and academics are campaigning for it to be given more powers. Morecambe Bay cockling disaster survivor Li Hua said he thought he "might just as well wait to die" before the emergency helicopter's thermal imaging camera spotted he was alive in the sea, The victims, aged between 18 and 45, were working to send money back to their families, Jurors in the manslaughter trial were taken out on the sands in a hovercraft, Mick Gradwell, who led the police investigation, claimed other similar disasters could occur. A decade ago 23 Chinese cockle pickers drowned when they were trapped by sweeping tides while working in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire. They realise we have problems," says Chen. When he returns home, he locks himself in his room. But 5,000 miles away in Fujian province, the tragedy has only deepened. The court heard three weeks after the sisters were released from prison in 2011, they were arrested in Bath after trying to pass off 20 notes that had been withdrawn from circulation. Their father had died in an accident several years earlier, leaving the family deep in debt. All the victims were the main breadwinners for their families. Work on Morecambe's cockle beds has ceased, and at the time action was promised to prevent such a tragedy happening again. In Fujian, a man is judged by the height of his home. Today, it is one of the oldest structures in a community of new factories and villas. Jeremy Clarkson Jokes About Dead Chinese Cockle-Pickers The UK Fujian Association gave 10,000 yuan (about 660) to many of the victims, but this was barely enough to pay for the funerals. They need to be repaid. On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. ", Inside Out talks to Li Hua, the only cockle picker to be rescued alive from the Morecambe Bay cockling tragedy 10 years ago. Research led by Durham University last year found evidence that the numbers of people trafficked for labour exploitation would soon exceed those brought to the country for sexual exploitation. The pair, who operated from houses in the West Midlands, had hidden 22,000 they . His evidence helped convict Lin Liang Ren of 21 counts of manslaughter, facilitating illegal immigration and perverting the course of justice. Since 2006, 201 licences have been revoked, but this is "the tip of an iceberg", he says. It was freezing cold but I didn't feel it. She shows me two photos of the father, Xu Yuhua, and mother, Liu Qinying, taken a week or so before the disaster. All I can think of is the Chinese cockle-pickers, poor sods. Just after the disaster, our relatives helped us a little bit, but they could not carry on supporting us indefinitely. Read about our approach to external linking. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? I ask Chen how the family will manage. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Li Hua knew very little about England before leaving his home village in China, beyond what hed read about and seen on television and yet he already made of it in his imagination something magnificent and welcoming. [13][14], A 2006 documentary Death in the Bay: The Cocklepickers' Story, was commissioned by Channel 4 as part of The Other Side from local filmmaker Loren Slater, who was one of the first people on the scene. Rescue workers take away the body of one of the Chinese cockle pickers who died after they were trapped by the rising tide in Morecambe Bay in 2004 Tracy Brown, a Morecambe town councillor said . Mick Gradwell, who has retired from Lancashire Police, said: "You're thrown into investigating international organised crime gangs, snakeheads, triads, international human trafficking. "I don't know how I will be able to pay for him if he succeeds. Xu says her brother went overseas after his mother was diagnosed with cancer. [5][2] An extensive search and rescue operation was launched. "I have no idea how we will get out of this situation," she says. The cockles to be collected are best found at low tide on sand flats at Warton Sands, near Hest Bank. Thanks to satellites and modern communications, the bad luck bounced across the globe almost instantly. He cooks noodles for the family, helps his mother with the piecework, and trims his dreams to fit the new reality. "There's the same number of unlicensed gangmasters as there is licensed, in the food-processing industry, for instance. In 2013, only seven gangmasters were convicted for operating without a licence. Her miserable red-brick cottage grovels at the feet of neighbouring multi-storeys - designed in a European style with Greek pillars and pediments. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, HSBC says 1 bank buyout boosted profit by $1.5bn, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests. "Usually all we have to eat is noodles and rice. The Morecambe Bay cockle pickers: Market failure or - ResearchGate Dependant Son Xu Bin, 17 Debt More than 200,000 yuan (13,250) Monthly income 1,200 yuan (80). If I had any money, I would pay them, because I know they have to work hard for their money too. Chen's mother wails when she sees me and falls to her knees to beg for help. Visitors may notice something strange walking through this quaint German town. A NORTH West Tory MP remained defiant today over an offensive joke about the Chinese cockle pickers who drowned in Morecambe Bay. [15], In 2009, Ed Pien's work Memento, commissioned by the Chinese Arts Centre, was developed in response to the plight of illegal immigrants, especially those who died at Morecambe Bay. The Morecambe Bay victims were aged between 18 and 45, Jurors in the manslaughter trial were taken out on the sands in a hovercraft. Now I have lost my parents. There is a common misconception that donations to the cockle-pickers' families will go into the pockets of the "snakehead" gangsters who smuggled the victims into Britain. Michael Guy, lifeboat operations manager was on duty that night. More than 1,000 days after the accident, they haven't paid back a single yuan of the original 80,000-yuan (5,300) loan. She refuses. He knows the creditors will never stop coming after him. [8] A further two cocklers were believed to have been with those drowned, with remains of one being found in 2010. The siblings have been separated. Today marks 15 years since 23 people died in the Morecambe Bay cockling disaster. When he died it was such a loss. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. The absence of a social welfare net in China drives people overseas and then leaves their families exposed when something goes wrong. "I've been on those sands man and boy What happened that night was not only awful beyond words it was absolutely avoidable Even when the tide hit them, had they had anybody with them, like me, who knows the area, there was still a safe route off the cockle bed They could have walked to safety.". Mr Hua was speaking to the BBC under the protection of the government's UK Protected Persons Service. 2023 BBC. Chinese 'wake' as cockle-pickers return - The Irish Times Education - supposedly free - costs more than 2,000 yuan (132) a year. Guo Binlong's brick-making business failed in China, so he went to Britain. The report also called for the scope of the GLA to be widened. These workers had no knowledge of the sea and hadn't been given any safety equipment or guidance by their gangmaster. ", Her sick brother-in-law says he feels like an extra burden. My husband is dead. We left our families to make a better life. Isaac Julien: 'What Freedom Is to Me' at Tate Britain review The Chinese gangmaster who organised the trip and two associates of his were found guilty of manslaughter, breaking of immigration laws and other crimes, and were sentenced to several years in prison. She was always crying. According to the Health and Safety Executive, migrant builders account for 17% of deaths on building sites, though they comprise only 8% of Britain's 2.3 million construction workforce. They cook a little extra and bring some for us. Find Cockle Pickers Work At Morecambe Bay stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. ", She shows me a letter she received from her husband before he died. BBC NEWS | UK | England | Lancashire | Cockle pickers died from drowning In any case, she says, her son no longer wants to go to school. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. Cockle picking can be a deadly business however - in February 2004 a group of Chinese immigrants drowned after they were cut off by an incoming tide in Morecambe Bay. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Memories of the tragedy may have faded in the public mind. THE death of the cockle-pickers in Morecambe Bay has added to its reputation for being a deadly area for the unwary. I ask. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority is unsurprised. [3][4] The workers had been trafficked via containers into Liverpool, and were hired out through local criminal agents of international Chinese Triads. And with that, he slips back into the background. The father inherited his son's 100,000 yuan debt (6, 625). He already had four mouths to feed. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. "We have no family home, no land. A decade ago 23 Chinese cockle pickers drowned when they were trapped by sweeping tides while working in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire. These early 19th-century kilns were used to make coke, a key Ingredient in steel production. "Is that near Morecambe?" The boy is lying on the bed, still flicking through a comic book. The creditors have taken over the dead couple's house, using it as a storeroom for their goods. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? BRITAIN: The bodies of some of the 23 Chinese cockle-pickers drowned at Morecambe Bay last February finally returned to their home villages last week. See. Hundreds of workers lined the Bay's sands in search for cockles, stretching out for miles in dangerous proximity to the treacherous rising tides. It seems workers have little confidence in reporting abuse to the GLA: "They don't seem to do much with the intelligence," a source told me. Photograph: Jonathan Watts, Audio slideshow: Jonathan Watts visits the families of the cockle pickers who died at Morcambe Bay three years ago. "I thought I might just as well wait to die. I don't know how we can go on. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. The doctor says it won't be long. Some 30 cockle pickers set out at 4 pm. Inside this station, the 1945 film "Brief Encounter" is played on a loop daily. Is climate change killing Australian wine? The events of that . No purchase necessary. "We are really poor. Su owes more than other families because she had to pay the snakeheads twice: once to get her husband to Germany and then, when he found no work there, to get him to Britain. Inside Out talks to Li Hua, the only cockle picker to be rescued alive from the Morecambe Bay cockling tragedy 10 years ago, "But the water was flooding so quickly some were dragged right away under the water.". "We dealt with the people who were responsible for the deaths on the night. Read about our approach to external linking. Everything he says lives up to the archetype of the downtrodden peasant. ", There is little I can say to comfort her. But the family is subsisting rather than living. I had a warm and happy family even though we weren't rich. But he gets up without grumbling and poses patiently next to his mother. The uncle, Chen Minyi, said he could not afford to keep them both, so the son stays with another aunt. eBook ISBN 9780429457357 ABSTRACT This case study describes an initiative titled Operation SeaQuest that was launched in the aftermath of a tragic incident in which 23 Chinese cockle pickers were drowned by the incoming tide in Morecambe Bay in Lancashire, United Kingdom. "I adopted him as my son, but I am worried about his future," sobs his aunt. But now she is furious at those who have left her alone with such a burden. ", Yu went to Inner Mongolia for a few months to work. ", There has been a little charity for her and several other families, from the Fuqing Overseas Workers organisation. I just can't. [2] The Chinese workers were unfamiliar with local geography, language, and custom. Lancashire | Cockle tragedy memorial unveiled - BBC News I thought I might just as well wait to die. In Westminster, Mr Sheridan has tabled an early day motion to mark 10 years from the tragedy. The events of that night left indelible memories for everyone involved - from the sole Chinese survivor and witness - to the lifeboat crew who found themselves confronted by a "sea of bodies". "One women supports two children and me. Registered in England No. Because of a lack of resources its budget was cut by 17% between 2011 and 2014 the GLA's ability to investigate and prosecute employers is limited. The authorities in Beijing have washed their hands of the matter. That anger grew as it became clear how desperate the victims' lives had been. His first words are an apology. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [6] Most of the victims were previously employed as farmers, and two were fishermen. The problem has got worse and the resources directed to it are totally inadequate.". Jonathan Watts hears the stories of eight victims' families plunged into debt and despair, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. "It is not fair for the children. "The Devil's beach," one newspaper cried. Mr Hua was speaking to the BBC under the protection of the government's UK Protected Persons Service. Sinking water, sinking water.". "The brother is 16 and he doesn't study hard. "We cannot afford gas so I have to go up to the hill to get wood," she sobs. On 5 February, Chinese cockle pickers were at work in the dark but facing the incoming tide. The detective who led the investigation into the tragedy said the deaths had "lived with him" ever since. Her brother and his wife were the only couple to die on the Lancashire sands, leaving their son an orphan. In fact, these . But, unlike his father, he refused to accept that poverty was his lot in life. The eldest son has done his best to honour that final wish, but it is becoming more difficult. "My husband was good to me. Unlike most of the families in Fujian, Yu knew that her husband was in trouble before she read about it in the newspapers because Guo had a mobile phone with him in Morecambe Bay. The 21 men and two women were aged between 18 and 45 and were. By The Newsroom. "There is a constant threat and risk of people being abused like this and dying because they're being forced to work in dangerous conditions," he added. How can the Chinese and the UK governments say that it is not their responsibility? It is an impossible burden for a landless farmer who is too old to find work in a factory. "We all came for the same reason. Two of the victims were women; the rest were mostly young men in their 20s and 30s, with only two being over 40 and only one, a male, under 20. He said: "If there's any fitting memorial to the poor people that died it would be that we can legislate or do our best to make sure no one dies in a similar situation. He has seen what they are like when they are here.". But 5,000 miles away in Fujian province . It is as though the Chinese tragedy became a triumph, a vindication of Britain's way of dealing with disaster. 2023 BBC. He said: "I think a lot about those who didn't survive, particularly at Chinese New Year, because it happened around that time. "I was on my own And then a helicopter came," he said. Tide kills 18 cockle pickers. Tracy Brown, a Morecambe town councillor, told the Daily Telegraph that the remarks were "beneath . 2023 Atlas Obscura. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Mon Nov 15 2004 - 00:00. Artist Isaac Julien: 'I didn't know if I'd live on until the 90s. A lot Think the car is still there completely buried, but surfaces occasionally when the channels change. One creditor, a cousin, has sued her in court, saying she must remarry to clear her debt. At a confiscation hearing in 2011, Bo, 46, and Yan, 43, were ordered to pay back about 1m which they had made. Read about our approach to external linking. The other quietly grasps my hand and implores me to help. Inside Out is broadcast on Monday 3 February at 19:30 GMT on BBC One North West and nationwide for seven days thereafter on the iPlayer. Under this government's war on regulation and "red tape", migrant workers continue to be subjected to exploitation at work. It contains 10 pictures. If anyone gets sick, it will be a total disaster for all of us. And Lena Chen - a Chinese woman living in Britain - sends a small amount of money before each spring festival. Song Xinyao is a smart 17-year-old who dreamed of going to university. But 5,000 miles away in Fujian province, on the south-eastern coast of China, lives are still being sucked into the sands. "He told us the water was up to his neck and asked us to pray for him," says his wife. [16][17], In 2010, artist Isaac Julien released his film Ten Thousand Waves about the disaster. And perhaps some fatty scraps of meat. The death of 19 cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay has added to its reputation for being a deadly area for the unwary. Instead of immigration vans, raids and endless spot checks, we need resources to be redirected into penalising exploitative employers and protecting workers. Their mother, Chen Aiqin, went to work in Britain because she thought it was her family's only chance to escape poverty. She makes 500 yuan (33) a month doing piecework - hammering the soles of shoes into place on her kitchen table. My only hope is that all of the family stay safe and healthy. "Some are polite. Mick Gradwell, the detective who led the investigation into the tragedy, said criminals were funnelling 1m per day to China by exploiting workers all around England. "They put me in prison for a year. But they drive her to distraction. We left our families to make a better life. Gangmaster Lin Liang Ren would drive the workers to Morecambe from Liverpool and visit casinos while the men and women toiled through the night. Zhao Xiao Qing was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months for facilitation of illegal immigration and perverting the course of justice. The garden was designed and built by young volunteers from the Princes Trust and the fire service in Morecambe. All she does all day is collect rubbish for recycling so we can get a little extra money," explains Chen. Please, The subscription details associated with this account need to be updated. Oneupmanship does not come much more literal. "I have no plan. "The situation is getting worse. Activists are concerned about the impact of funding cuts on working conditions. He makes no first impression, creates no fuss, just sits quietly waiting for his chance to speak while others are pulling at the heartstrings. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, The burden of being cricket legend Tendulkar's son, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, HSBC says 1 bank buyout boosted profit by $1.5bn, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media. Two sisters who laundered money linked to a human trafficking operation which caused the deaths of 23 cockle pickers have been jailed for a second time. "I was just numb..then, I don't know how, a wave maybe turned me round. Rescue teams continue their search over Morecambe bay, where many cockle pickers are feared dead after they were trapped by the rising tide in. Bo and Yan Li were jailed in 2009 for a scam linked to the deaths of the cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay in 2004. ", Dependants Wife Yu Lihong, daughter Guo Yuwei 16, son Guo Minghui 9, Debt 300,000 yuan (20,000) Income 750 yuan (50) per month. The Chinese cockle pickers died in 2004 when they were caught in the rising tide at Bolton-le-Sands near Morecambe, Lancashire. The widow's house is easy to spot in Shangjiang village. Among those who perished were an 18-year-old man and a husband and wife,. It is really unfair. There is usually less risk than for a loan for college or business.". Padgett said this about the sculpture, Its symbolism is intended to parallel humanitys openness to a larger dimension and the way cockle shells open as the tide comes in.. Morecambe Bay cockling disaster 15 years on: Lost lives remain "great "It was very harrowing. "My plan is to work in Kentucky Fried Chicken or McDonald's. They have had to move. Her house-cleaning job brings in just 600 yuan (40) a month. She has not broken any laws, but the death of her husband in Morecambe has made her a fugitive from the family's creditors. Lin Liang Ren was jailed for 14 years in 2006 after being found guilty of manslaughter and helping the cockle pickers break immigration laws. There are some outlets just 10 minutes from here and I hear they pay OK, about three or four yuan [20-25p] an hour. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. His mother, Shi Aizhu, took that call. The former detective superintendent, who is now retired, said: "The main reason 23 people died in Morecambe Bay on this particular night was because of poverty in the Fujian province of China. 'Risk to life just as real' as Morecambe Bay cockling tragedy But I got caught trying to enter Japan," he recalls. ", Dependants Wife Chen Jinyun and sons Lin Luan, 19, and Lin Huan, 18 Debt More than 100,000 yuan (6,625) Monthly income 600 yuan (40), Chen Jinyun is on the run. These lenders, many of whom are poor themselves, charge interest of about 10% a year. (modern), A woman searching for cockles in Fujiyan.

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