"Felt to me like an attempted intimidation to stop us covering migrant crossings," said Philp.
The media crew present on the charter boat provided immediate accounts of the disturbance at sea.
"There was no warning for our boat, no signs given that this was the French's intention," said BBC Journalist Michael Keohan.
The reporter reflected on the unexpected nature of the gunfire during an otherwise quiet morning crossing.
"The most unusual moment... in the quiet of the Channel," said Keohan.
He noted that crew members were unable to identify a target in the surrounding waters during the shooting.
"Even now it's still not clear what the patrol boat was aiming at," said Keohan.
Maritime personnel navigating the vessel also voiced concern over the unprecedented behavior from the neighboring patrol boat.
"Never seen anything like it before," said Captain Matt Coker.
The captain elaborated on the timing of the rounds as the warship drew parallel to his vessel.
"It’s a bit strange that as they approached us there wasn’t fire or anything and then as they went past, afterwards there wasn’t fire or anything," said Coker.
He further questioned the necessity of using live firearms so close to a commercial fishing boat.
"They only seemed to be firing the weapons when they were right alongside us.
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So I find that a bit strange because we’ve got all this open sea out here," said Coker.
