THE full horror of the human tragedy unfolding as a result of the migrant crisis in Europe was brought home in September when a young boy was pictured lying face-down on a beach near Turkish resort of Bodrum.

He was one of at least 12 Syrians who drowned attempting to reach Greece highlighting the extraordinary risks refugees are taking to reach the west.

The picture led to governments across the West agreeing to open their borders for thousands of refugees in an attempt to stop this from happening again.

However the crisis is nowhere near over – and thousands of men, women and children are still making dangerous journeys in deflated rafts and broken lifejackets in order to make it to the west.

RNLI lifeguard Craig Needham, who lives in Poole, has just returned from a gruelling eight days rescuing migrants attempting to make their way from Turkey to Greece.

Craig, who is currently as a Senior Maritime Operations Officer with HM Coastguard, travelled to the Greek Island of Lesvos at the end of last month to lend a hand to their unit Lifeguard Hellas.

Located in the northern Aegean Sea, and in places only seven miles off the Turkish coast, it is a prime spot for migrants to attempt the crossing.

But according to Craig, the attempts are being made in unsuitable craft leading to capsizes and sinkings resulting in countless drownings – 400 so far in January alone.

“All migrants are forced to wear a life jacket so it puzzled me why so many of them were drowning on the rip,” he added.

“I inspected some of the life vests being used and it was quickly evident why there are so many drownings - they are fake with materials that provided no support in the water.

“Even now I still struggle to comprehend the conditions these people must be facing back home to make them take such a high risk that could result in them drowning on their crossing attempt.”

During his time in Lesvos Craig was stationed at the northern point of the island in the small port town of Molivos.

“Daily operations saw us as a team fully man the base from 7am until 10.30pm with a break for lunch where another organisation kept a look out.

“Overnight a team of three were left with rotating watches to keep an eye and ear out for approaching boats.

“The realisation of my purpose of going on this trip was affirmed when a three-month old boy was passed to me, wrapped in blankets, from a grounded vessel full of another 58 people.

“Other experiences included getting a hug from a lady as I helped her step off the partially-deflated raft she had been sat on, wet and cold for over two hours.

“And another is the applause I received as I arrived in the lifeboat to safely escort them to shore.

“Whether you agree or disagree with the reception of migrants, common humanity surely should reason that these people shouldn’t be left to drown.”

However gruelling the experience was it hasn’t put him off as Craig is already planning another trip to the island.