At 7:00am yesterday morning, the Armed Forces of Malta’s Operations’ Centre at Luqa Barracks was informed that the Italian Coast Guard vessel CP-904 Fiorillo had just rescued some 17 migrants in distress at sea, and also recovered a corpse.
The migrants comprised 13 men and two women, and two children.
It is not yet known or established if the corpse is from the same group of migrants and what the state of health of the main group is.
The Fiorillo is a patrol vessel which last week was in Malta participating on the annual bilateral exercise Canale 2008. At present it is on patrol in connection with the enforcement of the bluefin tuna fishing quotas and for the inspections underway for the European Commission.
The migrants in distress were rescued in a position 56 nautical miles South of Malta.
Later at 10:30am, urgent medical evacuation of a very young baby girl was requested off the Fiorillo.
An Italian Air Force AB212 rescue helicopter of the Italian Military Mission based in Malta was dispatched with an Italo-Maltese flight crew. AFM medical officer, Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Robert Galea and AFM Air Wing rescuer Derek Pepe provided necessary treatment as required to both mother and two children which were brought onboard the rescue-helicopter.
The helicopter landed at Mater Dei Hospital at 12:20pm. The Fiorillo arrived at Haywharf at 4:30pm.