Lifeboats and helicopters rescued more than 130 stranded shellfish gatherers on the same beach in northwest England where 21 Chinese migrants drowned this year, Britain's coastguard agency said today.
The workers had set out to pick cockles, a shellfish delicacy, when they were cut off by rising tides after two vehicle trailers collided four miles out from the shoreline.
One vehicle trailer was carrying 60 Scottish cocklers while the second trailer was carrying 76 Chinese cocklers, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.
"All cocklers involved in the Morecambe Bay rescue operation appear to be safely ashore now," a coastguard spokesman told Reuters. "Our main concern, as always, is for their safety, in particular today as visibility was not particularly good."
The Coastguard launched various rescue units to bring the cocklers back to the shore, including two hovercraft, two rescue helicopters and lifeboats.
Last February, 21 Chinese cockle pickers died in Morecambe Bay after being trapped by fast-rising tides. Police believe two more people drowned but their bodies have not been found.
Their deaths shone the spotlight on gang labour in Britain, where migrant labourers are frequently paid low wages to work in the agriculture and construction industries, often illegally.
Five people have now been charged in connection with events that led to their deaths.