The Spanish coast guard found three illegal immigrants who traveled from Lagos, Nigeria, to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago in northwest Africa, sitting at the helm of a cargo ship.
Althini II, flying the Maltese flag, arrived at Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, on Monday morning (28). According to the data of geolocation systems, the ship did not stop during the entire 11-day voyage.
All three became dehydrated and had body temperatures well below normal. They were rescued and taken to the port and received medical care at a hospital in the area.
This afternoon, Salfamar Nunki [um barco da guarda costeira] I rescued three stowaways at the helm of the Althini II anchored at the docks of Las Palmas port and coming from Nigeria,” Salvamento Marítimo posted on Twitter.
A spokesman for the local government of the Canary Islands told the EFE news agency that the migrants were met by doctors on the pier and were rushed to hospital.
How the three migrants managed to survive the journey is unclear, as they apparently traveled without supplies. The ship’s helm barely had enough space for the three of them to sit, let alone lie down to sleep.
