Moment furious tourists reject migrant boat and push it BACK into water

Tourists can be seen pushing a migrant boat back into the water (Image: NC)

The dramatic moment tourists try to push a migrant-packed boat away from the shore as they descent on a beach has been captured on camera. Footage recorded on Saturday shows a small boat carrying migrants preparing to land at Sarakiniko beach on the island of Gavdos, Greece.

But furious tourists can be seen pushing the boat away with their hands in a bid to stop the Libyan migrants reaching the shore and disembarking. Beach-goers can be seen in the video turning the vessel back out to sea, with the edited clip showing those on board not resisting their efforts.

Local media reports that members of the public told the migrants not to stop at the beach, instead directing them to a port nearby.

Greece has seen a surge in migrants arriving along its southern border in recent weeks. Migration minister, Thanos Plevris, has warned previously of an "invasion" by migrants if Europe doesn't bring in tough measures as a deterrent.

The island of Gavdos has attracted scores of migrants in recent months as they make the journey from Libya. Gavdos is about 170 nautical miles from the Libyan city of Tobruk.

An increase in arrivals from Libya on Gavdos and nearby Crete this year led the Greek government to temporarily ban processing asylum applications of migrants coming from North Africa.

Migrants who are undocumented entering Europe's southernmost point from third countries considered safe by the European Union and not entitled to asylum have to return home under the ban.

If they don't, they face being detained for at least two years and fines of up to £8,665 (10,000 euros).