ONE of the Chinese cocklers who perished in the Morecambe Bay tragedy made desperate pleas for help on his mobile phone as the tides rose, engulfing his body, a court heard.

Survivor Guo Jin Fu told Preston Crown Court of his anguish as his friend Guo Bing Long made desperate calls to shore asking him to save his life.

When the cocklers arrived at Warton Sands last February after a two-hour journey spent in the back of a van, the Chinese people hurriedly dressed themselves in waterproofs and started running towards the sea because the tide had been out for some time, the court heard.

But the jury was told Guo Jin Fu never took part in any cockling activity because there were not enough waterproofs.

He stayed ashore playing games on his mobile phone until he spoke to Long on his handset some time later.

"He was asking for help and he said to call the police because the tides were rising very fast, too fast," he told the jury.

A record of calls made on the night showed Long had dialled 999 as well as speaking to Guo Jin Fu "many times".

Fu said he feared government officials and the police back in China and that, should he return, he would be be-headed.

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