"But we did not make any dent into these wider criminal gangs who traffic people around the world," he said. At the moment, it is impossible. 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. 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. The tragic deaths of twenty-three young Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay on the Lancashire coast have been attributed to the machinations of global capitalism. It is very hard to make a living here. Today, it is one of the oldest structures in a community of new factories and villas. The GLA has had some success in dismantling crime rings in Cambridgeshire, Derby and Norfolk, yet the scale of the problem seems beyond its reach. As the GLA admits, the fines for exploitative employers have been too low to be a deterrent: if an employer makes an annual profit of 100,000 and pays a fine of 500 for breaking GLA rules, he may well carry on regardless. The only decorations on the walls are some Christian posters and a portrait of her dead husband, Lin Guoguang. "It was very harrowing. In March 2006, Ren was jailed for 14 years at Preston Crown Court. One creditor, a cousin, has sued her in court, saying she must remarry to clear her debt. Back then, I assumed that the cries would end after a few hours or weeks or months. In sharp contrast, the dead man's mother is almost silent. But they drive her to distraction. Mon Nov 15 2004 - 00:00. I tell them I am not worth killing. "The tragic deaths of twenty-three young Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay on the Lancashire coast have been attributed to the machinations of global capitalism. In 2006, Liverpool gangster Lin Liang Ren was convicted of the manslaughter of the 23 . The men put the cash in a plastic container and buried it in the back garden, where it was later discovered by officers. He would be reunited with his wife as soon as hed found somewhere of his own to live, he was told. Yet many of the underlying causes, and especially the role of gangmasters, remain unresolved. "I don't know how I will be able to pay for him if he succeeds. ", Yu went to Inner Mongolia for a few months to work. My son knew that he would never find a bride unless we had our own home, so he went to England to earn enough money to buy one.". The other quietly grasps my hand and implores me to help. Lin Liang Ren was jailed for 14 years in 2006 after being found guilty of manslaughter and helping the cockle pickers break immigration laws. Ten Thousand Waves, featuring Maggie Cheung as Mazu, is a collaboration with the Chinese poet Wang Ping, whom Julien met in 2006 and brought to Morecambe Bay; she produced a poem that "became . Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. More than three years after 23 Chinese cockle pickers perished on the Lancashire sands, most people in the United Kingdom believe justice has been done. Mr Hua said: "I could not believe I was being rescued and I was alive again.". "It still makes me sad whenever I come here. The main thing is to be able to look down on your neighbours. "Is that near Morecambe?" They did not do anything illegal once they got to the UK. In 2006, the average rural income in the province was 4,450 yuan (270 pounds) a year, one-third higher than the Chinese norm - but little more than 1% of most British salaries. The smuggled Fujianese headed directly to the sources of wealth, including Europe. All rights reserved. "Look at this house. The Chinese cockle pickers died in 2004 when they were caught in the rising tide at Bolton-le-Sands near Morecambe, Lancashire. "My husband was good to me. In 2013, only seven gangmasters were convicted for operating without a licence. He has seen what they are like when they are here.". Memories of the tragedy may have faded in the public mind. Sometimes, relatives help out so that her children do not starve. Her salary of 1,200 yuan (80) a month, from a Singaporean trading company, would normally ensure a modest but secure existence in Fujian. Twenty-three of the group . Chinese cockle pickers who died in Morecambe Bay, northwest England in 2004. Twenty-three Chinese cockle pickers drowned in Lancashire's Morecambe Bay in February 2004. It probably makes little difference. "I was on my own And then a helicopter came," he said. [2] The Chinese workers were unfamiliar with local geography, language, and custom. But she feels a constant pressure. But 5,000 miles away in Fujian province . 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. When the creditors come knocking - at least once a month for the past three years - he begs for more time. On the evening of 5 February 2004, at least 21 Chinese illegal immigrants were drowned by an incoming tide at Morecambe Bay in North West England, while harvesting cockles off the Lancashire coast. But because the victims were all illegal migrants, their dependants have received no compensation, meagre charity, and endured such appalling harassment from debt collectors that several have been driven from their homes and at least one woman has killed herself. Thanks to satellites and modern communications, the bad luck bounced across the globe almost instantly. Bo Li and Yan Li tried to spend the laundered money three weeks after being released from prison, The Li sisters were arrested after trying to spend 20 notes that had been taken out of circulation. All rights reserved. . "Sometimes I think if he hadn't died I would live a better life.". And perhaps some fatty scraps of meat. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Lin Liang Ren was jailed for 14 years in 2006, Research led by Durham University last year, 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. But I have a few hundred thousand yuan worth of debts. "I am sorry I couldn't invite you to my place. But returning to Fujian more than three years later, I find that familiar lament greeting me as I enter the home of Chen Yanchun, who has met me at the airport and sobbed for most of the 50-minute drive to see her family. Xu says her brother went overseas after his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Is climate change killing Australian wine? The events of that . [16][17], In 2010, artist Isaac Julien released his film Ten Thousand Waves about the disaster. They cook a little extra and bring some for us. ", Dependants Wife Yu Lihong, daughter Guo Yuwei 16, son Guo Minghui 9, Debt 300,000 yuan (20,000) Income 750 yuan (50) per month. 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 son, Lin Zhifan, was also poorly educated - quitting school before he was 16 so that he could work in a factory. Ten of us used to live here," says Chen. Gang labour is common in the building trade, and poor health and safety under gangmasters has led to many injuries and, in some cases, deaths. ITV received a Bafta for its coverage of the seven-month trial, which ended in march last year. One of them, Li Hua, was within seconds of becoming a victim. "Our thoughts really are of sadness for the families. Running time. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. "My neighbours and relatives help us. Dependants Wife Su Zhenqin and two daughters aged 10 and 14 Debt 300,000 yuan (19,900) Monthly income 300 yuan (20). This barely covers half the interest payments. What is inside is almost irrelevant. "We dealt with the people who were responsible for the deaths on the night. He believes the small gangmasters not following the rules may get caught, but the large ones are still out there. During the subsequent investigation and trial, it emerged that the labourers were inexperienced, spoke little or no English and were unfamiliar with the area. 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. In the background of both is a British beach. [7] Four of the victims died after the truck they used to reach the cockling area became overwhelmed by water. I wish you and my son health and safety. "Perhaps," she says with a shrug. 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, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala, 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. Often mistaken as a commemorative statue, this sculpture has become a memorial of sorts, honoring the deaths of 23 Chinese cockle pickers who died in Morecambe Bay working for criminal . The young woman shrugs as she ushers her son into the bedroom next door. The deaths 10 years ago of 23 Chinese cockle pickers who were searching for a "better life" has had a lasting effect on all those associated with the Morecambe Bay disaster. The families' huge debts are now owed to relatives, friends and neighbours. Romania: Castles, Ruins, and Medieval Villages, Iceland in Summer: Journey Through a Fabled Land, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Mokele-Mbembe, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Stories from the Collection of Ryan and Regina Cohn, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Satanists, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, Gourds Gone Wild: Growing and Crafting Gourds With Gourdlandia, Playing Ancient Games: History & Mythology With John Bucher, Secrets of Tarot Reading: History & Practice With T. Susan Chang, Why 18th-Century Scots Performed Mock Human Sacrifices Over Cake. Dependant Son Xu Bin, 17 Debt More than 200,000 yuan (13,250) Monthly income 1,200 yuan (80). But he gets up without grumbling and poses patiently next to his mother. "I was just numb..then, I don't know how, a wave maybe turned me round. ", There is little I can say to comfort her. ", We sneak back into her home so that she can show me the life she left behind. Morecambe's RNLI crew worked for 22 hours during the search and rescue operation. After he turns 18 next year, we won't be able to keep him in education." Ghosts is a 2006 drama film directed by Nick Broomfield, based on the 2004 Morecambe Bay cockling disaster. But 5,000 miles away in Fujian province, the tragedy has only deepened. It is an impossible burden for a landless farmer who is too old to find work in a factory. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. "We all came for the same reason. These workers had no knowledge of the sea and hadn't been given any safety equipment or guidance by their gangmaster. It is a short, scrawled tale of misery: "Wife. [2] Twenty-one bodies, of men and women between the ages of 18 and 45, were recovered from the bay after the incident. Always listen to your mother.". His wife joined him after local snakeheads told her that migrant men find mistresses if they are separated from their spouses for too long. An industry source has informed me of numerous cases of gangmaster abuse over the past decade, from the hospitality industry to food processing and agriculture, saying that little has been done to change the situation. And, of course, the debt from the dead woman's passage to Britain still hangs over them. She condemns the snakeheads for luring her brother and his sister overseas, she accuses the Chinese authorities of inhumanity because they would not let her see the bodies before they were cremated, and she is dismayed that Britain is treating the dead more as criminals than as victims. 17 cockle pickers of eastern European origin were saved at the River . A family portrait in 2004 shows the couple smiling with their two children. An . Birds have nested in the roof. It is not enough to live on, let alone pay interest. [3] Fourteen other members of the group are reported to have made it safely to the shore, making 15 survivors in total. When their gangmaster, Lin, was convicted of criminal negligence the judge at Preston crown court said the accused was motivated by greed to shockingly exploit his countrymen with no heed for their safety. Li was lifted by violent waves as he struggled to swim against the tide. Select from premium Cockle Pickers Work At Morecambe Bay of the highest quality. [3] The favoured area for cockle picking is close to the low tide line near the confluence of the Keer Channel and the Kent Channel, approximately 3.5 kilometres (2.2mi) north of Morecambe. The creditors have stopped charging interest, but they are a presence that the children cannot ignore. In March 2006, Ren was jailed for 14 years at Preston Crown Court. In this boring Europe, I miss you and mother and our relatives very much. There is usually less risk than for a loan for college or business.". In Westminster, Mr Sheridan has tabled an early day motion to mark 10 years from the tragedy. [5][2] An extensive search and rescue operation was launched. ", At last year's trial in Britain, the boy wrote to the judge. Now we are on our own. She refuses. Xu Liying knows just how hard life can be without any support from society, the state or charity. My uncle, auntie and grandfather help me. His first words are an apology. Some 30 cockle pickers set out at 4 pm. Mr Gradwell claimed other similar disasters could still occur because people are willing to exploit the poorest in society for their own ends. [3][4] The workers had been trafficked via containers into Liverpool, and were hired out through local criminal agents of international Chinese Triads. ", As we leave, our driver, Lin Wanxiong, explains how Fujianese people have been travelling overseas to make their fortunes for many generations. Sinking water, sinking water.". I know it would influence them in a bad way. "The Devil's beach," one newspaper cried. But he lost his life, and now Zhou has not only to look after their son and daughter, but also a sick brother-in-law. "He told us the water was up to his neck and asked us to pray for him," says his wife. 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. Typically in such situations, they have each lent 5,000 to 10,000 yuan (330-660) to a family to pay the cash that the snakeheads demand as soon as the migrant has been smuggled to his or her destination. Published 7th Feb 2004, 00:00 BST. One of them, Li Hua, was within seconds of becoming a victim. It is as if they have fallen into a crevasse between justice and charity, from which there is no way out. "We are really poor. She comes outside to see us off. "That was taken just days before he set off to Europe," she says, breaking into tears. They were cut off by the incoming tide in the bay around 9:30 p.m. Apart from the senior hovercraft commander, many of the crew on that particular night on the hovercraft hadn't seen bodies in the water before.". The eldest son has done his best to honour that final wish, but it is becoming more difficult. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Li Hua was trafficked by 'snakeheads' from China via Moscow to the UK. Charitable appeals have made little progress. The death of 19 cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay has added to its reputation for being a deadly area for the unwary. The cockles to be collected are best found at low tide on sand flats at Warton Sands, near Hest Bank. "It is his debt now. Almost a decade after the disaster, Mr Hua said he still has panic attacks. Bo and Yan Li were jailed in 2009 for a scam linked to the deaths of the cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay in 2004. The doctor says it won't be long. These early 19th-century kilns were used to make coke, a key Ingredient in steel production. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . But they are not stupid. Is climate change killing Australian wine? He wants to quit school and start work so that he can begin repaying the debt. The court heard Freeman removed the money before police were able to catch up with him, and drove it to a house in Solihull where Bo Li's boyfriend, John Bowkett, 65, lived. In Fujian, a man is judged by the height of his home. The uncle, who earns 1,500 yuan per month, has repaid 20,000 yuan, but still owes 150,000. I guess he is also the poorest and least educated. The man and his wife survive on handouts from their three other sons. "One women supports two children and me. ", Among all the people I meet in Fujian, Lin has come the furthest to talk but appears to have the lowest expectations. The victims' families - especially their children - are being punished, even though they broke no law themselves. Bo and Yan Li were jailed in 2009 for a scam linked to the deaths of the cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay in 2004. A NORTH West Tory MP remained defiant today over an offensive joke about the Chinese cockle pickers who drowned in Morecambe Bay. Li Hua was the only worker to be rescued on the night of 5 February, 2004. Unable to read the warning signs on the beach, the victims were trapped while picking cockles by fast-moving tides on the notoriously treacherous sands. 2023 BBC. Mr Guy said: "At that stage they effectively came into a sea of bodies. The area of Morecambe Bay where 21 cockle pickers died is seen in this illustration released by Lancashire Police Credit: Reuters. Everyone was panicking, they got out of the vehicle and tried to swim. Outside, there are building materials for some home improvements that have been shelved indefinitely. Languages. But the family is subsisting rather than living. Almost a year on, it has collected only 20,000, including 5,000 that ITV donated after its recent Bafta. Inside this station, the 1945 film "Brief Encounter" is played on a loop daily. But he also rang home to Fujian. It is as though the Chinese tragedy became a triumph, a vindication of Britain's way of dealing with disaster. And there had been fierce cockle wars between local gangmasters from Scotland and Wales since eight years before It was just chaos and it became very difficult to work in thetrade.". Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? One grandmother is still crying as I prepare to leave. Photograph: Don McPhee for the Guardian, en years ago this week, 23 men and women lost their lives searching for cockles in Morecambe Bay. I don't want another. Although this was a made-in-China and consummated-in-Britain tragedy, no one wants to take responsibility for the consequences. I am terrified that one typhoon could bring the walls crashing down on top of us." The detective who led the investigation into the tragedy said the deaths had "lived with him" ever since. During the last school holiday, he went to work in a factory paying 60p a day so he could start to repay the debts of the dead. Everyone was panicking, they got out of the vehicle and tried to swim. THE death of the cockle-pickers in Morecambe Bay has added to its reputation for being a deadly area for the unwary. He said the team on the hovercraft covering Arnside in Cumbria began their "normal search patterns" when they made the grim discovery of the bodies. You must go around the back of Red Bank Farm and it is a sharp left up on the on the banking, looking over the Bay. This month he takes university entrance exams, but his mother says she cannot afford the application fee, let alone the costs of tuition if he gets a place. Read about our approach to external linking. He said: "The water covered the wheel and the vehicle couldn't move. Some 30 cockle pickers set out at 4 pm. At least 21 Chinese cockle pickers drowned in treacherous weather conditions in Hest Bank, Lancashire, on the night of 5 February 2004. A tribute to the Morecambe Bay Chinese cockle pickers and the talent of Christy Moore. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. When 23 Chinese cockle pickers died at Morecambe Bay in 2004, the gangmaster was caught and convicted, bodies were repatriated, the disaster tidied away. Her miserable red-brick cottage grovels at the feet of neighbouring multi-storeys - designed in a European style with Greek pillars and pediments. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. "I dare not tell my sons about our debts. The Morecambe disaster was recognised as a crime by a British court. 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. We are so poor. 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. To put her two children through school, she has borrowed more money, taking her debt to more than 300,000 yuan (19,900) . But we quickly ran out of things to eat so I had to start working again. I was just lucky.". Last time I was back there, word quickly got round and before I knew it there were 10 of them pressing me to repay our debts. The only contribution we made to the families is that because we did recover the people we gave them some closure - rather than people being lost at sea.". Each time one of the children catches a cold, the family must pay a few hundred yuan for medicine. 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. We left our families to make a better life. Michael Guy, lifeboat operations manager was on duty that night. introduced after the 2004 tragedy has led to a reduction in the number of illegal cockle pickers in the Bay. "They put me in prison for a year. Morecambe Bay's cockling industry was catapulted into the national spotlight 15 years ago under disastrous circumstances. [10], David Anthony Eden Sr. and David Anthony Eden Jr., from Prenton, Merseyside, who bought cockles from the work gang, were cleared of helping the workers break immigration law. The detective who led the investigation into the tragedy said the deaths had "lived with him" ever since. Clifford Coonan was . Please, The subscription details associated with this account need to be updated. Survived by Father Lin Guohua Debt 100,000 yuan (6,625) Income None. I wish I could earn something now to ease their burden, but I can't leave my children alone. Photograph: Jonathan Watts, Audio slideshow: Jonathan Watts visits the families of the cockle pickers who died at Morcambe Bay three years ago. In the Channel 4 documentary Benefits Street, viewers saw a group of Romanian workers who were owed wages by their gangmaster, who also held their passports. And they were gone just like that. It took a year to reach Morecambe. Activists are concerned about the impact of funding cuts on working conditions. Zhao Xiao Qing was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months for facilitation of illegal immigration and perverting the course of justice. Twenty-one bodies were recovered within hours, a woman's skull was washed up six years on and one man has never been found. In January 2005, just short of a year after her son's death, Shi decided to join him. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (David Morris) on securing this timely debate. After they have paid the rent and utilities, there is barely enough for food. 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. "They kept on and on at her.

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