BBC News. Death In The Channel

Well sadly the fourteen year old has paid with his life, because of the selfishness of his parents. I cannot imagine how they thought even for one second that sending a thirteen (was fourteen by the time he died) year old boy was anything but selfish. The father wanted to access free NHS care, even though he is not eligible to receive NHS care.
It’s a horrible situation in Syria, but also in many other countries too, and the NHS is not responsible for treating patients from all around the world.
Poor child, he was afraid, he couldn’t swim. I feel so sorry for him, but not for his selfish parents.

So they should get themselves to Jordan not this convoluted, expensive and dangerous route across Europe to us.

Aveline

I have read the link and also saw it yesterday. They seem to have paid many thousands of pounds for fares. If they had that sort of money surely they could have paid for medical care in their own country?

Even with money, access to healthcare is very limited in Syria.
Daraa hospital was destroyed by Assad and has only been partially rebuilt.
Jordan is the nearest place of safety.

maddyone

^They couldn’t have come anyway^

If that’s even true, since often people come, usually men but not always, and then having achieved being allowed to stay, like the brother ( he was given permission to stay for five years) they are then allowed to send for their family. Parents are the closest family a thirteen year old boy can have. The brother was going to send for his wife.
Read the link.

His brother would have been his family, so no need for his parents.

maddyone

The whole point of them going was not especially to link up with the brother, although that would have been a pull, but as the neighbour said, the whole point of them going was so the father could seek medical treatment in the UK.
Read the link.

I read it. Did you?
In fact, the plan was flawed from the start. Given that he already had an adult brother in London, Obada would not have been in a position, as a minor, to arrange for his parents to follow him legally.

I have read the link and also saw it yesterday. They seem to have paid many thousands of pounds for fares. If they had that sort of money surely they could have paid for medical care in their own country?

They couldn’t have come anyway

If that’s even true, since often people come, usually men but not always, and then having achieved being allowed to stay, like the brother ( he was given permission to stay for five years) they are then allowed to send for their family. Parents are the closest family a thirteen year old boy can have. The brother was going to send for his wife.
Read the link.

The whole point of them going was not especially to link up with the brother, although that would have been a pull, but as the neighbour said, the whole point of them going was so the father could seek medical treatment in the UK.
Read the link.

woodenspoon

In France or Italy they wouldn’t get free treatment on the NHS. Amongst other things.

They couldn't have come anyway.

Aveline

What is so special about UK that people are quite happy to take desperate risks to get here? Why not settle in Italy or France?

He had a brother here. Wouldn't you want to be with your family?

In France or Italy they wouldn’t get free treatment on the NHS. Amongst other things.

What is so special about UK that people are quite happy to take desperate risks to get here? Why not settle in Italy or France?

That poor boy. Selfish, unfeeling parents. No wonder our health service on its knees.

Absolutely terrible. What sort of a father was he ? Just so different from anything you’d expect.

Yes, the neighbour confirmed what the mother told the BBC in a video message. The neighbour said that was the whole point of them going, so the father could seek medical treatment in the UK.

That poor boy, I wept for him.
He was frightened and he couldn't swim.

We forget that Syria is still in turmoil but that boy should have stayed with his parents, not been encouraged to go on such a hazardous journey, although he was with his older brother who also drowned.

It was a neighbour who claimed the child was being sent so that his parents could follow and receive treatment on the NHS.

The smugglers are wicked. Surely the French police know who they are?

Yes, a terrible tragedy.
Presumably the parents didn’t understand that they couldn’t join him because it clearly states in the article that the parents sent their thirteen year old child because they wanted to be allowed to come to Britain in order to get treatment for the father’s illness.

His parents wouldn't be allowed to join him if he had been granted refugee status. His older brother is trying to get hs wife permission, presumably he couldn't financially afford to claim his parents as well.
A terrible tragedy

He shouldn’t be allowed treatment for his illness on the NHS nor should any of them. That would stop it immediately.

Chardy that’s not why this thirteen year old child was sent though! He was sent so that once in the UK he would be allowed to send for his family. His father wanted to come to England so he could have treatment for his illness, I think it was heart problems but it doesn’t matter what, he wants treatment from England with it’s over stretched NHS for his illness! Nothing to do with the war in Syria. He sent his child, HIS CHILD, so he can gain entry into Britain. And his child died because of his selfish father. What kind of parenting is that? The father disgusts me. His child died because of him.

When we see live reports from Gaza, it's easy to see why families are desperate to get family members out of war zones.

The father was selfish. Yes, he’s ill, but to risk your child’s life to serve your own best interests is selfish.
This poor little boy, setting off from his hometown at just thirteen years old. The family could find the money, thousands of pounds, to sent two youngsters on their way, for their own ends. Thirteen years old! That’s all he was. Poor child. I’m angry at the selfishness of the father!

FranA
It’s your perception that the article paints the family in a bad light. The parent’s comments were made from a place of ignorance.
They more than likely looked at a map and thought, how dangerous can it be, it’s only a small stretch of water.
It’s very possible that they have seen videos taken on the French beach showing the bright lights of Dover. At night it almost looks as if you could swim it.

I thought it was a good report.Desperately sad. I felt more sorry for his brother, they really grilled him on the "who's to blame" considering how he must be feeling at the moment. Sad that the boy considered turning back but was encouraged to go on by the others, matbe he had an inkling of how it would turn out.

The parents were just desperate at least the report put across the human element of all this