A new report has claimed the French and British emergency services passed responsibility on to each other during the worst-ever Channel Crossings tragedy.

Last November more than 30 people, including five women and a child, drowned as they attempted to reach the UK.

The rubber dinghy, carrying 34, sank killing 31 people and an unborn baby.

Sky News revealed a preliminary investigation, carried out by a law firm on behalf of some of the relatives, uncovered communications between the British and French emergency services which suggests neither side took responsibility for the unfolding disaster.

The report, seen by Sky News, draws on evidence from the two survivors, phone calls, text messages and emails.

It claims passengers first called the French and English rescue services around 2am on November 24, 2021, and then continued for almost two hours, begging them to intervene.

"A few minutes after this first call, the French rescue services again asked for the vessel's position," the French report says.

"The position of the vessel was then in English waters. The French rescue team then transmitted the position to the English rescue team, informing them it was their responsibility to assist the boat.

"The English rescue team tried to call one of the numbers given to them by the Cross Gris Nez (French coastguard) but the tone of the call indicated that the vessel was in French waters.

"They therefore considered that the obligation to provide assistance fell to the Cross Gris Nez."

Among those who died were two mothers, each of whom was trying to reach the UK with their four children in search of a better life.

Khazal Ahmad Khdir, 42, was travelling with her sons Twana Mamand Muhammad Hussein, 18, and Mobeen, 15, and her daughters Hadya Rizger, 17, and Hasty, five.

The family were from Iraqi Kurdistan which they left about a month ago, embarking on a journey across Europe to a migrant camp in Dunkirk, France.

Many of the findings in the new report corroborate a Sky News investigation published in December 2021.

Twana Mamand Mohammad, had left his home in the mountains of northern Iraq three months earlier to chase his dream of playing football in England.

Sky News first met his older brother Zana, a policeman, days after he found out Twana had drowned. In the months that have passed, Zana has been helping lawyers with the investigation.

"All the information indicates that they waited for help for over six to seven hours," Zana told us when we met again at his home near the town of Ranya in Kurdish-controlled Iraq.

"Even if there was a very urgent matter and if there was a heavy load on the coastguards, they surely could have still gone to their aid in those few hours."

Twana is one of three men whose bodies are yet to be found, making it harder for Zana and other families to mourn.

"Each one [France, UK, and the smugglers] get their share of blame," he believes.

"The smugglers are negligent in providing the necessary high-quality tools and materials for the trip.

"The coastguards or the emergency services of both countries were negligent in not going to their help, as they [migrants] had reached out to them and had informed them of their situation.

"They did tell them that they needed help.

"To me, the smugglers, France, and Britain get their own share of the crime, but the extent of who gets the larger and the smaller share will be decided by the court.

"The biggest criminals are the smugglers, the primary perpetrators are smugglers.

"But it is also true that the boat was in the waters for six hours, and they called Britain and France 80 times. France and Britain are both responsible too."

Responding to the legal investigation and the Sky News report, a spokesperson for the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "It is not appropriate for us to comment on the specifics of any legal actions.

"It would also not be appropriate to comment ahead of the outcomes of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigation.

"Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the tragic events of November last year.

"On 24 November, Her Majesty's Coastguard received over 90 alerts from the English Channel area, including 999 emergency calls.

"Every call was answered, assessed and acted upon, including the deployment of search and rescue resources where appropriate.

"We always have and always will respond to anyone in distress, as we did that day."

Sky News also asked the French Gris Nez for comment, but received no reply.