Rescue group saves 11-year-old girl floating alone in the Mediterranean for days after shipwreck

An 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone was rescued in the Mediterranean Sea off Italy’s Lampedusa island after floating alone for three days following a shipwreck. She is believed to be the sole survivor of a migrant boat carrying around 45 people that departed from Sfax, Tunisia. The rescue was conducted by the German-flagged sailboat Trotamar III, operated by the charity Compass Collective.

The girl was found in severe conditions, suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion, but without food or water. According to her account, she survived using inflated innertubes and a lifejacket, losing contact with two others she had initially stayed with during the ordeal. Rescuers fear the rest of the passengers drowned.

The rescue occurred amid harsh weather, with high winds and waves exceeding 8 feet. The Trotamar III crew, which has been assisting migrants since 2023, distributed life jackets to another 53 migrants on a separate boat and reported their location to Italian authorities.

This year alone, over 1,500 people are reported dead or missing in the central Mediterranean, highlighting the ongoing migrant crisis. Compass Collective emphasized that the girl’s survival symbolizes the tragedy faced by countless others in perilous migration attempts.

Source: AP News