After a rescue operation on Friday morning, a woman fought for her life for hours on the SEA-EYE 4. Our head of mission had asked the Italian Maritime Rescue Centre several times for an urgent medical evacuation. Each time, however, Italy referred to the Libyan Maritime Distress Control Centre and Italy's telemedicine service.

The Libyan sea rescue coordination centre did not respond to the request for help even after several hours. The Italian telemedical service contacted came to the conclusion that a medical evacuation was necessary. However, the Italian emergency control centre in Rome continued to deny any responsibility and again referred to Libya.

Around 8 p.m., Italy finally instructed the SEA-EYE 4 to sail to Lampedusa itself to carry out medical evacuations. Instead of sending a helicopter that would have reached the patient in under an hour, Italy sent the survivor on an eight-hour crossing. Around 4 a.m., the pregnant woman was finally handed over to the Italian coast guard.

During the previous rescue operation, the so-called Libyan coast guard had made the fleeing people panic to such an extent that they had tried to flee from the militia. During this escape attempt, several people fell into the water and have been missing ever since. In the rubber boat itself, the crew later had to discover four bodies. We have summarized the events on our website.

Yours

Gorden Isler
- Chairman of Sea-Eye e. V.