Brave Eleven-Year-Old Rescued After Three Days Adrift in Mediterranean

After clinging to inner tubes for three days following a shipwreck, an 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone was rescued by the Compass Collective in the Mediterranean. Following her rescue, she was handed over to Italian authorities on the island of Lampedusa, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross to Europe.

 

In a remarkable but tragic story, an 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone was rescued after enduring three days adrift in stormy Mediterranean waters. The young migrant was found clinging to inner tubes when rescuers from the non-governmental organization, Compass Collective, responded to her calls for help while en route to another emergency situation.

The girl's journey had begun in Sfax, Tunisia, with 44 fellow migrants. Sadly, her boat succumbed to the ruthless waves, presumed lost, with all others onboard. According to Compass Collective spokeswoman Katja Tempel, the Trotamar III vessel's crew discovered the girl at approximately 03:20 (02:20 GMT) on Wednesday, wearing just a simple life jacket alongside two intertwined inner tubes.

She recounted the harrowing moment when her metal vessel sank within seconds as stormy conditions, including 11.5-foot waves, battered the boat. Initially adrift with two other individuals, she lost contact with them in the chaos, eventually managing to survive on her own.

After her rescue, the girl was handed over to authorities on the Italian island of Lampedusa, where she demonstrated a remarkable resilience by being able to walk and talk. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported a staggering total of 30,955 migrant deaths or missing persons in the Mediterranean over the past decade. This year alone, Italy has seen over 63,000 arrivals, although there has been a reported decrease due to stringent policies adopted by the current right-wing government.

This incident underscores the perilous situation that countless migrants face in their quest for safety and a better life in Europe.