A new life: Woman delivers baby mid-sea in overcrowded migrant boat en route to Spain

A baby boy was born aboard a migrant boat headed to Spain’s Canary Islands, Spain’s rescue service said Wednesday (January 8), sharing a photograph of the newborn, his mother, and dozens of others on the overcrowded vessel.

The dinghy was first spotted off the island of Lanzarote on January 6, as Spain marked the Epiphany holiday. Rescuers found 60 people on board, including 14 women and four children. Both the mother and baby were in good health when the coastguard arrived.

Domingo Trujillo, captain of the rescue vessel, told TVE they had been informed of a pregnant woman onboard. However, they were surprised to discover the baby had been born just minutes before their arrival.

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“The surprise was (that we found) a totally naked baby who was born 10, 15 or 20 minutes earlier,” Trujillo said. “I covered him up, took him here (to my chest) and patted him so that he would stop crying.”

Medics recommended transferring the mother and baby to a hospital by helicopter. Reuters cited helicopter commander Alvaro Serrano Perez as saying, “Being Three Kings Day this was the best gift we could have received.”

Canary Islands: A migrant magnet

The Canary Islands, a common entry point for migrants from Africa, have faced increasing migration. In 2024, the archipelago recorded an all-time annual high with 46,843 illegal arrivals, representing 73 per cent of irregular migration to Spain, according to Interior Ministry data.

Most migrants reaching the islands come from Mali, Senegal, and Morocco, with many braving dangerous journeys in overcrowded boats to seek a better future.

However, the journey is extremely dangerous. A recent report by NGO Caminando Fronteras said that at least 10,457 migrants died or went missing while attempting to reach Spain by sea from January 1 to December 5, 2024.

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This was a 50-per cent increase on 2023 and the highest toll since its tallies began in 2007, attributing it to the use of ramshackle boats, dangerous waters and a lack of resources for rescues.

With inputs from agencies