Everyone rescued by the RNLI in this incident in August 2023 survived – but six people pulled from the water by other vessels who responded to the emergency lost their lives.
RNLI crew members said they have faced accusations that they are facilitating illegal immigration.
But volunteer Dan Sinclair says what they see in the Channel has a profound impact on them.
He recalls one recent rescue, telling the BBC: “There was a little girl on that boat.
“When we took that little girl – who was probably four years old – off that boat, she looked at me straight in the eye and she said ‘Thank you. I love you.'”
You can see more about the rescue on the new series of ‘Saving Lives at Sea’ on BBC Two on Thursday at 20:00 BST and on iPlayer.