“Several Drowned” 17 Saved Including Pregnant Woman After Shipwreck In Maltese SAR Zone
Trigger warning: death by drowning.
German NGO Sea Punks took to Facebook after 21 people were found by its rescue vessel at 7am in the waters of the Maltese Search and Rescue (SAR) zone, after the boat they were on sank.
17 people survived, including a pregnant woman and an injured man who were airlifted from the waters, whilst others, including two children lost their lives.
The Organisation said, “several people drowned before their eyes,” most of whom had shown severe signs of hypothermia after retrieval.
Two children had CPR performed on them with only one regaining consciousness. A toddler’s lifeless body was also recovered.
“The situation was extremely critical, with people drifting on both sides of the ship and becoming increasingly separated. All available rescue equipment was deployed to save as many lives as possible,” the NGO said.
In spite of “multiple attempts” to contact Maltese authorities, they didn’t receive any response, leaving the passengers without aid. Sea Punks called this lack of action another consequence of Europe’s flawed approach to migration.
Although in the Maltese SAR zone, the incident occurred around 53 nautical miles off the coast of Lampedusa, with the Italian Coast Guard taking the survivors (except for the ones airlifted) and the bodies of the two children to shore.
Sea Punks has condemned EU migration policies following recent tragedies, criticising the reliance on external partnerships and the expansion of Frontex.
“We mourn for people who should not have died if the EU acted differently,” the organisation stated, adding, “Europe’s policies don’t just isolate – they kill.”
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