11-Year-Old Girl Rescued After Three Days Adrift in Mediterranean

An 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone has been rescued after spending three harrowing days clinging to inner tubes in the stormy waters of the Mediterranean. Rescuers from the non-governmental organization Compass Collective discovered the girl while en route to another emergency, drawn by her desperate calls for help.

According to the girl’s account, she had embarked on the journey with 44 other migrants from Sfax, Tunisia. Tragedy struck when their metal boat sank within seconds after being battered by 3.5m-high (11.5ft) waves during a fierce storm. While she initially stayed close to two other survivors, they eventually lost contact in the rough seas. The other 44 migrants are presumed dead.

The girl was handed over to Italian authorities on the island of Lampedusa, where she was found to be able to walk and talk despite the ordeal.

This rescue highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean in search of safety and opportunity in Europe. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 30,955 migrants have died or remain missing while attempting the perilous crossing over the past decade.

The Mediterranean route remains one of the deadliest migration corridors in the world, with thousands of lives lost each year as migrants brave treacherous waters to reach Europe.