Decathlon gives up selling kayaks in Calais, the city overlooking the Strait of Dover, at the narrowest point of the Channel. The canoe, in fact, was used by migrants to try to cross the Channel and reach the United Kingdom. The decision, according to French media, was taken by the French group of sporting goods stores after the disappearance of several migrants at sea. The latest case on 12 November with the disappearance of three migrants off the coast of Calais after an attempted crossing with a kayak.
The recent increase in crossing attempts, Decathlon explained to the local newspaper ‘La Voix du Nord’, “has actually led our Decathlon Calais teams to question their attitude towards selling products that could be used as means of crossing the Channel. In consultation with our teams, we will try to ban the purchase of boats, kayaks in particular, which could endanger the lives of people who use them to cross the Channel. We are interested in not letting our customers take risks whatever the circumstances “.
Decathlon Calais, which withdrew the kayaks from sale on Friday, will however continue to sell safety equipment such as life jackets, oars, thermal protectors. On Friday three migrants were found missing after attempting the crossing by canoe, while the day before two canoes were found adrift off the coast of Calais and two migrants were rescued at sea. According to the UK’s Home Office, a record 1,185 people landed in southern England on small boats last Thursday compared to 853 in the previous record set earlier this month.