Tragic Shipwreck in the Mediterranean: Eleven-Year-Old Girl Rescued as Sole Survivor
In a harrowing incident in the Mediterranean Sea, an 11-year-old girl has been rescued by the NGO Compass Collective, marking a remarkable yet tragic story of survival. The girl, reportedly the only survivor of a recent shipwreck, recounted that her overloaded boat had departed from Sfax, Tunisia with 45 others on board before it sank three days ago. The rescue took place off the coast of Lampedusa in the early hours of Wednesday, following distressing screams heard by the crew members of the sailing boat Trotamar III, which was responding to another emergency at the time.
The young survivor was discovered keeping herself afloat with makeshift buoys fashioned from inflatable tubes and a life jacket. Despite her ordeal—exposed to a severe storm with winds reaching 23 knots and waves up to 25 meters high, without food or water—the girl remained alert and responsive when the rescuers reached her. The Compass Collective confirmed that the girl was suffering from hypothermia but was brought to safety early Wednesday morning when the Trotamar III docked in Lampedusa at 6 AM.
Upon arrival, she was taken to the island's polyclinic for examination, where she appears to be recovering well. The rescue has shed light not only on the girl’s individual tragedy but also on the broader context of perilous migrations across the Mediterranean. The NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans has warned that the treacherous conditions may have led to several other shipwrecks recently, with indications that two boats carrying 45 and 75 people were reported missing on December 2nd, and another boat with 45 individuals was reported missing on December 4th.
These incidents underscore the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, where countless migrants attempt the treacherous journey in search of safety and a better life, often at great risk. The plight of the young girl highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and action to address the dangers faced by migrants in these perilous waters.
Related Sources: