An 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone has been rescued near Lampedusa, Italy, after surviving a tragic migrant boat capsizing in the Mediterranean Sea. The boat, which had departed from Sfax, Tunisia, reportedly carried 44 migrants, all of whom are presumed dead except for the young girl.
Rescuers from Compass Collective, a German non-governmental organization, discovered the girl while responding to a separate emergency. Her faint calls for help alerted the team, leading to her miraculous rescue after days in the water.
Katja Tempel, spokesperson for Compass Collective, recounted the girl’s harrowing ordeal: “She told us that they started four or five days ago in Sfax, in an iron boat. There were very heavy storms between Lampedusa and Tunisia… the boat capsized three days ago. For one day, she was in the water with two other people, but they eventually disappeared. She drifted alone for two more days until we found her.”
The girl’s survival amidst such grim odds has been described as a remarkable coincidence, with Katja emphasizing, “The fact that we were close enough to hear her voice is extraordinary.”
The tragedy highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting perilous crossings in the Mediterranean, underscoring the urgent need for international attention and action. Authorities are working to confirm details and provide support to the survivor.