Guo Binlong's brick-making business failed in China, so he went to Britain. The horrors imprinted on my mind, says Li Hua. It is not that I don't want to pay. "But we did not make any dent into these wider criminal gangs who traffic people around the world," he said. Barbara Storey, chair of SOS Polonia, a Polish community organisation in Southampton, said: "Abuse in gang labour is still common in the industries where migrants find work." Mr Hua agreed to be interviewed and talk about the disaster almost 10 years on. They used houses and shops in Shirley in Solihull, and Dudley to run their operation, it said. 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. . 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sisters were released from prison in 2011, they were arrested in Bath after trying to pass off 20 notes that had been withdrawn from circulation. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. "Our thoughts really are of sadness for the families. ", Yu went to Inner Mongolia for a few months to work. They cook a little extra and bring some for us. "Look at this house. Bo and Yan Li were jailed in 2009 for a scam linked to the deaths of the cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay in 2004. 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. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. An . "If someone goes abroad, everybody in the neighbourhood lends them money because they believe they will be repaid in three or four years," Chen says. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. At the moment, it is impossible. One solitary figure stands at the edge of the sea, the sole survivor . But it is still not rich enough to keep people from leaving. It is as though the Chinese tragedy became a triumph, a vindication of Britain's way of dealing with disaster. The men put the cash in a plastic container and buried it in the back garden, where it was later discovered by officers. 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". "They kept on and on at her. My husband is dead. 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. Twenty-one bodies were recovered within hours, a woman's skull was washed up six years on and one man has never been found. 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. All she does all day is collect rubbish for recycling so we can get a little extra money," explains Chen. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. 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". The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Mr Gradwell claimed other similar disasters could still occur because people are willing to exploit the poorest in society for their own ends. These early 19th-century kilns were used to make coke, a key Ingredient in steel production. Activists are concerned about the impact of funding cuts on working conditions. We must go on. Only 21 bodies were recovered. All rights reserved. "I have no plan. In Britain, the Morecambe Bay disaster is history. So why are the authorities unable to prevent this kind of situation arising? Bolton: Concerns over Chorley New Road 'hump' after repairs, Boy with epilepsy campaigning for access to medicinal cannabis, Man racially abused police officer after being hit over head with vodka bottle, WATCH: Vicar of Bolton delivers final service with 'deep gratitude', National Lottery on the hunt for Prestons community heroes, Preston local elections 2023: Watch debate on Guild Hall, Animate Cinema and council cuts, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, Palestinian hunger striker dies in Israel prison, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. And they were gone just like that. Most are of her wedding. "We once lived in the hills, but it was too remote, too far away from the nearest school, so we moved," he says in a thick local dialect. But it is near the creditors so they used to come knocking all the time. What is inside is almost irrelevant. If we're to learn the lessons of the Morecambe Bay tragedy, we need to invest in improving conditions. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (David Morris) on securing this timely debate. They did not do anything illegal once they got to the UK. Lawyers in London are pressing a claim for money from Britain's criminal compensation fund, but if a payment comes at all it could take years. And the amount that we owe is growing all the time because we cannot pay interest. [2] The Chinese workers were unfamiliar with local geography, language, and custom. All but two of the bodies have been found, identified and repatriated. She refuses. Li Hua was the only worker to be rescued on the night of 5 February, 2004. The last time a foreigner came to see me, they came knocking immediately after and caused trouble. The pair, who operated from houses in the West Midlands, had hidden 22,000 they had made and tried to spend it when they got out of prison. Sinking water, sinking water.". They need to be repaid. That afternoon, she ate with her grandson during his lunch break. If the creditors saw you they would assume you gave me money and demand I repay them. I know it would influence them in a bad way. Michael Guy, lifeboat operations manager was on duty that night. [16][17], In 2010, artist Isaac Julien released his film Ten Thousand Waves about the disaster. There are some outlets just 10 minutes from here and I hear they pay OK, about three or four yuan [20-25p] an hour. His evidence helped convict Lin Liang Ren of 21 counts of manslaughter, facilitating illegal immigration and perverting the course of justice. 2023 BBC. "My family are all healthy and we are happy. They were working and they died. When 23 Chinese cockle pickers died at Morecambe Bay in 2004, the gangmaster was caught and convicted, bodies were repatriated, the disaster tidied away. "I went myself when I was young. A family portrait in 2004 shows the couple smiling with their two children. It wasn't the creditors this time. They were cut off by the incoming tide in the bay around 9:30 p.m. "I dare not tell my sons about our debts. Mr Sheridan wants to see its remit extended into industries including social care and construction. Almost a decade after the disaster, Mr Hua said he still has panic attacks. These workers had no knowledge of the sea and hadn't been given any safety equipment or guidance by their gangmaster. Alan Sledmore, who guides people across the bay, said "The area is very . "Building up hidden communities and building a life below official recognition.". 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. Michael Guy, lifeboat operations manager was on duty that night. Country. In 2004 23 cockle-pickers drowned after becoming trapped by rising tides in the Lancashire bay. She breaks down again. 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's cockling industry was catapulted into the national spotlight 15 years ago under disastrous circumstances. 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. His father went overseas to earn enough for his tuition. We left our families to make a better life. Song Xinyao is a smart 17-year-old who dreamed of going to university. She now lives at her uncle and aunt's home in the hills. The garden was designed and built by young volunteers from the Princes Trust and the fire service in Morecambe. We do not have a lot of money but we are happy to go through each day peacefully and I am very thankful And glad to be alive," Mr Hua added. Is climate change killing Australian wine? 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. The creditors haven't started to harass him yet because they know he is just a kid, but they will when he grows up. We were not warned about the tides, never once, Albanians caught in cannabis farm raid acquitted as trafficking victims, Snakehead gangs fuel organised crime in UK. He must be able to hear everything anyway, if not this time, then on countless previous occasions. Read about our approach to external linking. Labour MP Jim Sheridan raised the matter with a private member's bill and legislation soon followed which saw the creation of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) in 2006. "My plan is to work in Kentucky Fried Chicken or McDonald's. Running time. The death of her husband Dong Xinwu has left them with a debt of 240,000 yuan and no breadwinner to pay it back. [19] This song was later covered by folk musician Christy Moore.[20]. A month or two after arriving, he was dead - the youngest of the Morecambe victims. But she feels a constant pressure. The father inherited his son's 100,000 yuan debt (6, 625). Although they don't say anything, I know they worry every day about debt. One of them, Li Hua, was within seconds of becoming a victim. Worries about the future contrast sharply with the upbeat mood in Fujian. Mr Hua said: "It was pitch black and I was desperate. "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. Hundreds of workers lined the Bay's sands in search for cockles, stretching out for miles in dangerous proximity to the treacherous rising tides. "I was so tired last year that I had to stop and rest. All four were convicted of money laundering at Birmingham Crown Court on September 20. Education - supposedly free - costs more than 2,000 yuan (132) a year. She shows me two photos of the father, Xu Yuhua, and mother, Liu Qinying, taken a week or so before the disaster. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? The absence of a social welfare net in China drives people overseas and then leaves their families exposed when something goes wrong. 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. 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 family is still in trouble. "It was pitch black and I was desperate," he said. Gangmaster-controlled work is worth 1.34bn to the UK economy, but only 950 labour providers are licensed under the act. ", The creditors have also suffered, she says. The uncle, who earns 1,500 yuan per month, has repaid 20,000 yuan, but still owes 150,000. 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. Chen says that is impossible now. One creditor, a cousin, has sued her in court, saying she must remarry to clear her debt. Her miserable red-brick cottage grovels at the feet of neighbouring multi-storeys - designed in a European style with Greek pillars and pediments. The problem is the creditors. The title is a reference to the Cantonese slang term Gweilo (), meaning "ghost man", used for white people . 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. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? The cockles to be collected are best found at low tide on sand flats at Warton Sands, near Hest Bank. Dependants Wife Chen Yanchun, son Song Xinyao, 17, and the family's two grandmothers Debt 240,000 yuan (15,900) Monthly income 500 yuan (33). If anyone gets sick, it will be a total disaster for all of us. 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. I thought I might just as well wait to die. In any case, she says, her son no longer wants to go to school. One of them, Li Hua, was within seconds of becoming a victim. Li Hua was trafficked by 'snakeheads' from China via Moscow to the UK. It is a tale of globalisation, of events on one side of the world rippling to the other and back, each time with tragic consequences. 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. Her brother and his wife were the only couple to die on the Lancashire sands, leaving their son an orphan. Was a May Day Attack by Pilgrims a Practice Run for a Massacre? 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. All the victims were the main breadwinners for their families. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. The events of that . I had a warm and happy family even though we weren't rich. We have noticed that there is an issue with your subscription billing details. Li was lifted by violent waves as he struggled to swim against the tide. We are so poor. The son, Lin Zhifan, was also poorly educated - quitting school before he was 16 so that he could work in a factory. They have done nothing wrong. Chen's mother wails when she sees me and falls to her knees to beg for help. But if something goes wrong, there is no bankruptcy law and scarcely any safety net - a poverty alleviation allowance of 3 per month per child is all that local government pays in cases of great hardship. "There's the same number of unlicensed gangmasters as there is licensed, in the food-processing industry, for instance. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . Freeman, of Wiggington Road in Tamworth, received a four-month jail term suspended for 12 months. I just can't. They were staying at a hotel in Chippenham in Wiltshire and staff found 22,000 hid in a locker during routine checks. I don't know how we can go on. I don't want another. The money had been stashed by Yan Li's boyfriend Philip Freeman, 64. Sometimes, relatives help out so that her children do not starve. Effective regulations would benefit both migrant and local workers. My only hope is that all of the family stay safe and healthy. I thank him and the Minister for allowing me to speak briefly on this important matter. Lin Liang Ren was jailed for 14 years in 2006 after being found guilty of manslaughter and helping the cockle pickers break immigration laws. But the Japanese police were very good. Today marks 15 years since 23 people died in the Morecambe Bay cockling disaster. ITV received a Bafta for its coverage of the seven-month trial, which ended in march last year. Mr Hua was speaking to the BBC under the protection of the government's UK Protected Persons Service. Having heard so many wailing relatives in other houses, I was struck by the silence in this one. Eighteen cockle pickers have died after becoming trapped by rising tides in Lancashire's Morecambe Bay. [5][2] An extensive search and rescue operation was launched. Others are furious and threaten to beat me. [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. It was freezing cold but I didn't feel it. 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. 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. Even so, small expenses quickly mount up. "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.". 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. Like most victims, Zhou's husband Cao Chaokun was not well educated. Misery appears to be what he is used to. BBC News. The walls are cracked. It is really unfair. By The Newsroom. The interview over, I ask if I can take some pictures of the mother, grandmother and son. ", Dependants Wife Yu Lihong, daughter Guo Yuwei 16, son Guo Minghui 9, Debt 300,000 yuan (20,000) Income 750 yuan (50) per month. "Please help us. Local fisherman Harold Benson is still traumatised by the events of 5 February 2004. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "It still makes me sad whenever I come here. 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.". Read about our approach to external linking. The 23 deaths at Morecambe Bay highlighted the serious risks being taken by low-paid workers and the cavalier attitude of those supposedly responsible for them, but in Parliament efforts were already under way to tackle gangmasters. In 2013, only seven gangmasters were convicted for operating without a licence. "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. Memories of the, UKmigrants no different to Brits abroad, says home office minister, Don't claim we didn't act on gangmasters after Morecambe Bay, Cameron to push for cap on European migrants in UK negotiations with EU, Seasonal migrant workers scheme closes to help British into work, Newfigures reveal dramatic increase in hate crimes against Polish people, UKmust end dependency on low-wage foreign labour, says Ed Miliband, Home Office 'did not predict huge surge in immigration visas for entrepreneurs', EdMiliband promises to close loophole allowing exploitation of foreign workers, Romanians and Bulgarians in the UK react to immigration furore. Ten years after the cockle pickers' tragedy, we are still focusing on the arrival of migrants, not their rights, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Widow Lin Meiqin, who lives in China's Fujian province, has never remarried after her husband Lin YouXing died in the bay at the age of 38. They became trapped by rising tides and were swept out to sea. "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. The death of 19 cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay has added to its reputation for being a deadly area for the unwary. When he returns home, he locks himself in his room. Read about our approach to external linking. Morecambe's RNLI crew worked for 22 hours during the search and rescue operation. Charitable appeals have made little progress. He said he "kept waving" at the helicopter. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. The victims' families - especially their children - are being punished, even though they broke no law themselves. It is very hard to make a living here. I ask. It took a year to reach Morecambe. He said he "kept waving" at the helicopter. 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 . A sculpture of a blood drop designed to honor those that have donated the precious liquid. It contains 10 pictures. Healthcare, which is more market-driven than in most capitalist countries, is a heavy burden. [12] Lin Mu Yong was sentenced to four years and nine months. Some 30 cockle pickers set out at 4 pm. "Is that near Morecambe?" Clifford Coonan was . ", Dependants Wife Zhou Xiaomei and son Cao Xianyong 13, daughter Cao Meiyun 16 Debt 200,000 yuan (13,250) Monthly income 250 yuan (17). But now she is furious at those who have left her alone with such a burden. His wife joined him after local snakeheads told her that migrant men find mistresses if they are separated from their spouses for too long. Inset: bodies being removed after the disaster. The other quietly grasps my hand and implores me to help. He was called in by the coastguard to help with the rescue, but only got there in time to bring the workers' bodies out of the sea. I ask Chen how the family will manage. But 5,000 miles away in Fujian province . David Anthony Eden Sr. and David Anthony Eden Jr., a father and son from England, had allegedly arranged to pay a group of Chinese workers 5 per 25kg (9p per lb) of cockles. Read about our approach to external linking. With China's economy racing along at double-digit pace and huge inflows of cash from overseas, this region has never had it so good. [18], The 2007 folk song "On Morecambe Bay" by folk artist Kevin Littlewood tells the story of the events. The Praying Shell artwork, carved in limestone, sits above the site where 23 Chinese cockle pickers working for. Mandarin, Fuzhou dialect, English. Among those who perished were an 18-year-old man and a husband and wife,. But, unlike his father, he refused to accept that poverty was his lot in life. She is wearing a white dress and her husband Wu Hongkang is in a western suit. He wants to quit school and start work so that he can begin repaying the debt. Winner will be selected at random on 06/01/2023. The Chinese cockle pickers died in 2004 when they were caught in the rising tide at Bolton-le-Sands near Morecambe, Lancashire. [6] All the bodies were found between the cockling area and shore, indicating that most had attempted to swim but had been overcome by hypothermia. The van belonging to the group of missing cockle pickers, in a car park on the foreshore of Morecambe Bay near Bolton Le Sands, where many cockle. Mr Guy said: "At that stage they effectively came into a sea of bodies. I am paralysed most of the time. The Fujian style of mourning is somewhere between a lament and an undulating, almost melodic wail of misery. He does everything he is told without complaint or enthusiasm. Police said they were part of a money-laundering gang that made 4m and had assets in the UK, Thailand and Norway. But they are not stupid. Back then, I assumed that the cries would end after a few hours or weeks or months. His evidence helped convict Lin Liang Ren of 21 counts of manslaughter, facilitating illegal immigration and perverting the course of justice. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Market reforms have produced stunning economic growth and many new millionaires, but they have also eroded access to healthcare and education for the poor. It was the eight-year-old who found the body. My uncle, auntie and grandfather help me. When he died it was such a loss. Returning three years later, I find that he seems to have coped as well as can be imagined in the circumstances. It was first described to me in February 2004 as one of China's most beautiful and deeply distressing forms of art. He would rather start work early so that he can start making payments on the debt that he will inherit as soon as he comes of age - a responsibility that few children of his age have to bear. The hon. ", At last year's trial in Britain, the boy wrote to the judge. He added: "What's changed since Morecambe Bay? And with that, he slips back into the background. 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 organizations. And tradition says the wife and children inherit the debt of the father. Select from premium Cockle Pickers Work At Morecambe Bay of the highest quality. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). He cooks noodles for the family, helps his mother with the piecework, and trims his dreams to fit the new reality. 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 . Thanks to satellites and modern communications, the bad luck bounced across the globe almost instantly. 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. The Morecambe Bay cockle pickers tragedy: a survivor's story. Read about our approach to external linking. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. Some creditors keep adding interest, which has pushed the debt to 300,000 yuan (20,000). File photo: Lancashire Police. "The accident was a disaster for me. The cockle permit scheme, under which holders have to complete a safety course and learn about intertidal fishing, was introduced in December 2003, just eight weeks before the disaster.
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