11-Year-Old Girl Found Alone at Sea After Migrant Boat Sinks
Sole Survivor: 11-Year-Old Girl Found Adrift in mediterranean After Migrant Boat Capsizes
Lampedusa, Italy – An 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone is the only known survivor of a migrant boat that capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the ongoing tragedy of perilous journeys across the treacherous waters.the girl was discovered clinging to life after three days adrift, using innertubes and a lifejacket to stay afloat. She was rescued by the German-flagged sailboat Trotamar III,operated by the humanitarian group Compass Collective,off the coast of Italy’s southernmost island,Lampedusa.”It was an remarkable coincidence that we heard the voice of a girl even though the motors were running,” said Matthias Weidenluebbert, captain of the Trotamar III.
The crew immediately stopped the engines and searched for the source of the voice, eventually finding the exhausted and hypothermic girl.
“She was exhausted and tired and cold, but in general, she was fine when we fetched her out of the water,” said Katja Tempel, a member of Compass Collective.
According to the girl’s account,she had embarked on the journey from Tunisia with approximately 45 other people. She had been in contact with two others until two days before her rescue, when communication was lost.
“We don’t know what happened to the people,” Tempel said. “we assume that they all drowned, but we don’t know what.”
The rescue occurred following a period of intense storms with winds exceeding 23 knots and waves reaching over 8 feet.
The Trotamar III, a 13-meter vessel with a rotating crew of six, has been actively involved in humanitarian rescue efforts for 16 months. as joining these efforts, the crew has rescued over 230 people. After finding the young girl, they also provided life jackets to 53 individuals aboard a separate, unmotorized wooden boat and alerted Italian authorities to their location.
In total,the Trotamar III crew has assisted over 1,700 people,distributing life jackets,alerting authorities,and staying with them until rescue arrives. In critical situations, they even transfer stranded individuals onto their sailboat.
This harrowing incident underscores the ongoing crisis in the mediterranean. according to UN statistics, over 1,500 people have perished or gone missing in the central Mediterranean this year alone. While arrivals in Italy have decreased by 58% compared to last year, the dangers remain stark.
“I want to emphasize, this girl is just a sign for the (deaths) in the Mediterranean,” Tempel said. “She’s one person, and it’s very sad that she probably lost her relatives. But it is just a symbol for the tragedy that is happening.”
Sole Survivor Found After Migrant Boat Capsizes in Mediterranean
Lampedusa, italy – An 11-year-old girl is the sole known survivor after a migrant boat believed to be carrying approximately 45 people capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. The young girl, from Sierra Leone, was found clinging to life after three days adrift, using innertubes and a life jacket for buoyancy.
She was rescued by the German-flagged sailboat Trotamar III, operated by the humanitarian group Compass Collective, off the coast of Italy’s southernmost island, Lampedusa.
“It was an remarkable coincidence that we heard the voice of a girl even though the motors were running,” said Matthias Weidenluebbert, captain of the Trotamar III.
the girl, exhausted and hypothermic, was instantly pulled aboard the sailboat.According to her account, she had last been in contact with two other passengers two days before her rescue.”We don’t know what happened to the people,” said Katja Tempel, a member of Compass Collective.”we assume that they all drowned,but we don’t know what.”
This rescue took place following a period of intense storms with winds exceeding 23 knots and waves reaching over 8 feet.
The Trotamar III,a 13-meter vessel with a rotating crew of six,has been actively involved in humanitarian rescue efforts for 16 months and has rescued over 230 people during that time. In addition to rescuing the young girl, the crew also provided life jackets to 53 individuals aboard a separate, unmotorized wooden boat and alerted Italian authorities to their location.
This harrowing incident highlights the ongoing crisis in the Mediterranean. according to UN statistics, over 1,500 people have perished or gone missing in the central Mediterranean this year alone.While arrivals in Italy have decreased by 58% compared to last year,the dangers remain stark.
“I want to emphasize, this girl is just a sign for the (deaths) in the Mediterranean,” Tempel said. “she’s one person, and it’s very sad that she probably lost her relatives. But it is just a symbol for the tragedy that is happening.”