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And British expat Eric Kempson, who is battling to save lives on the front line of Greeces refugee crisis, warns the problem is far from over.

The 61-year-old, originally from Hampshire, said even in winter the boats are still coming with refugees at risk of hypothermia and frostbite.

Artist Mr Kempson, who has lived on Lesbos for 16 years, said although there are at least 150,000 life jackets there, the number used to be double.

It looks impressive but before it was unbelievable. The majority of them are fake. They have normal sponge inside. If you jump in the water, it soaks the water up.

He said many more people would have survived if their life jackets had been real, with many of those making the dangerous four-and-a-half-mile crossing from Turkey forking out 85 for each buoyancy aid.

Eric Kempson

Gettty

REUTERS

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Migrants try to reach a rescue craft from their overcrowded raft, as lifeguards from the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms rescue all 112 on aboard

"Along with his wife Philippa, 44, and daughter Elleni, 18, Mr Kempson runs Project Hope, offering food, dry clothes and medical help to soaking wet migrants landing near their home on the north coast of the island.

Of the numbers arriving, he says: I think they are going to lift up again when the spring comes in.

He said the islands migrant camps were freezing and disgusting.

Read more:
Migrant Crisis: British expat shows mountain of 'fake' lifejackets on coastline - Express.co.uk