Child born on migrant boat heading from Africa to Canary Islands

The Spanish coast guard says a baby was born this week on a crowded migrant boat traveling from Africa to the Canary Islands.

They have published a photo of the child who was rescued along with his mother and several other migrants.

The crowded inflatable raft was first spotted near the island of Lanzarote on January 6.

Rescuers believe they reached the ship shortly after the baby’s birth, on the day Spain celebrated Epiphany, a Christian holiday where babies traditionally receive gifts.

The captain of the rescue boat said that he knew there was a pregnant woman on the boat, but was “surprised to see a completely naked baby, who had been born 10,15 or 20 minutes earlier”.

When they arrived at the ship, the mother was lying on the floor of the overcrowded boat, while the baby was held by another passenger, Domingo Trujillo said.

On medical advice, the child and his mother were taken via helicopter to a hospital in Lanzarote. No other complications have been reported by officials.

“It’s Three Kings Day, it was the best gift we could have received,” helicopter commander Alvaro Serrano Pérez told Reuters news agency.

Crossing the ocean from Africa to the Canary Islands is extremely dangerous.

Spanish government figures this month showed more than 46,800 undocumented migrants took the route to reach the islands last year.

The Christian feast of the Epiphany, when observers celebrate the visitation of Jesus by the Magi – commonly known as the Three Kings or Wise Men – is widely celebrated in Spain.

Children polish their shoes on the eve of the event known as “El Día de los Reyes” (The Day of the Kings) and leave them ready for the three kings – Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar – to place their gifts. Are.