SUNBATHERS in the Canary Islands helped emergency workers rescue migrants who arrived on a beach in a rickety dingy The migrants, including three babies and a pregnant woman, landed at Aguila beach on Gran Canaria and were given water, food , clothes and thermal blankets. The group of two dozen were exhausted, cold and some […]
SUNBATHERS in the Canary Islands helped emergency workers rescue migrants who arrived on a beach in a rickety dingy
The migrants, including three babies and a pregnant woman, landed at Aguila beach on Gran Canaria and were given water, food , clothes and thermal blankets.
The group of two dozen were exhausted, cold and some seemingly in a state of shock after weathering the Atlantic for several days.
One swimsuit-clad woman carried a baby in blanket while another cradled a weary migrant in her lap as another gave her water. Another used his beach towel to keep her feet warm.
Red Cross officials said the migrants, who were from northern and sub-Saharan Africa, told them of six days spent navigating at times rough waters.
One of the babies on the boat was taken to hospital with a fever.
“It was a really tough journey,” said Jose Antonio Rodriguez of the Red Cross .
Sunseekers, who ranged from tourists visiting the island to locals, sprang into action after the boat arrived, he said.
“They were the first ones to help out, giving them food, water and milk for the babies after they saw how hungry they were,” he said.
“They also gave clothing as the migrants were soaking wet.”
Some 27,594 migrants had arrived in Spain this year by mid-November, according to data from the Interior Ministry, a decrease of more than 50 per cent from the same period last year.
The popular tourist destination of the Canary Islands, however, has seen an increase of 22 per cent in arrivals, with 1,493 migrants arriving so far this year by mid-November.
