11‑year-old survives Mediterranean refugee ordeal; 40 missing at sea
More than 40 people have been reported missing after a boat that departed from the Tunisian city of Sfax and was heading across the Mediterranean Sea to the shores of Lampedusa capsized. The only survivor of the disaster may be an 11-year-old girl, rescued after drifting for three days on the car's inner tubes.
The 11-year-old from Sierra Leone survived three days in the Mediterranean Sea by clinging to the car's inner tubes. The girl was saved off the coast of Lampedusa. She was taken to the hospital with symptoms of hypothermia. More than 40 people have been reported missing after the boat capsized.
The girl told rescuers she set out on a metal boat with other refugees from Sfax in Tunisia. During the journey, the boat encountered a storm and high waves. The 11-year-old ended up in the water. Initially, two other people were beside her, but as she explained, "the sea took them."
Rescue operation off the coast of Lampedusa: 11-year-old girl drifted in the water for three days
According to estimates by representatives of the German charity Compass Collective, which was involved in the rescue operation, the girl is likely the only survivor. Matthias Wiedenlübbert, captain of the rescue boat Trotamar III, described the child's rescue as a stroke of great luck.
"It was an incredible coincidence that we heard the child's voice even though the engine was running," the captain recounted. The crew confirmed the search would continue as someone else may have survived in the water.
The girl mentioned her brother was traveling with her on the boat. His fate is unknown.
The route between Tunisia and Italy is among the most dangerous in the world. The International Organization for Migration reports that since 2014, over 24,300 people have died or gone missing there.
