Milan, Jan. 27 (LaPresse) – The Sea Punk NGO vessel recovered the bodies of two children, aged two and three, following the shipwreck of a migrant boat off Malta's SAR (Search and Rescue) waters. The ship rescued two separate groups of migrants 53 nautical miles from the largest of the Pelagie Islands, saving a total of 18 people from the water, according to Sea Punk.
The rescue came too late for an infant, who was found deceased. "Survivors reported that they initially departed with 21 people, many of whom drowned before their eyes. Many of those rescued showed severe signs of hypothermia, and the crew provided immediate assistance," stated the NGO.
"Medical evacuation was requested immediately, while the medical team performed CPR. Before the arrival of a Maltese rescue helicopter, one child was successfully resuscitated, but the other tragically passed away," Sea Punk added. The helicopter evacuated a pregnant woman and a critically injured man.
Fifteen survivors and the bodies of the two deceased children remained aboard the Sea Punk vessel. Shortly afterward, an Italian Coast Guard rescue ship took the survivors onboard. One person is still missing, reportedly a small child.
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