New rescue for UK cocklers
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The bay is famously dangerous with fast-rising tides and quicksands.
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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Lifeboats and a helicopter rushed to rescue a group of stranded cockle-gatherers on the same beach in northwest England where 20 mainly Chinese migrant workers drowned three weeks ago.
A Royal Air Force spokeswoman said rescuers were scrambled to Morecambe Bay Thursday after at least 30 people were reported in difficulty as water levels started to rise.
"Most have managed to make their way back to shore but there are still a small number unaccounted for," the spokeswoman said.
She said there were no reports of injuries.
Seventeen men and three women drowned at the dangerous bay on February 5 when they were caught at night by fast-rising tides as they collected cockles, a popular shellfish food.
The deaths shone a spotlight on gang labour in Britain, where migrant labourers are frequently paid low wages to work in the agriculture and construction industries, often illegally. Several arrests have been made in the case.
The tragedy has also had unexpected political repercussions for Britain's opposition Conservative Party.
A Conservative member of parliament was sacked on Thursday for making a joke about the deaths at a party to promote relations between Britain and Denmark.
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