Advertisement

Incredible find under ship after stowaways survive 11-day trip

An astonishing photo has captured three stowaways sitting on an oil tanker’s rudder after 11 days and more than 3,000 kilometres in open seas.

The trio from Nigeria were spotted by the Spanish Coast Guard after arriving in the Canary Islands, just off the coast of northwest Africa, on Monday, as reported by Spanish news outlet EFE.

In an image shared online, the group can be seen huddled under the vessel’s huge hull, with their feet dangling just inches above the water.

The three stowaways from Nigeria pictured on the rudder of a ship in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.. Source: AAP
Three stowaways were rescued in the Canary Islands by the Spanish coastguard on Monday after riding on the rudder of an oil tanker on an 11-day voyage from Nigeria. Source: AAP

Clinging to life

Still sitting in the tiny, cramped space of the Maltese-flagged oil tanker, Alithini II, the three were spotted after arriving in the Port of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, a week and a half after setting sail from the Port of Lagos in Nigeria on November 17.

With barely half a metre to the water’s edge, it’s not known if the group had spent the entire 3,220 kilometre journey perched on the stern.

Suffering moderate dehydration, all three stowaways were treated at the dock by emergency medical assistance teams before being rushed to local hospitals, as reported by EFE.

Medical teams arrive at the port (left) and one of the stowaways is cared for by a medical team (right).
The trio were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital with moderate dehydration. Source: AAP

Tanker to return stowaways to Nigeria

The Canary Islands, located just 100 kilometres west of Morocco, have become a popular route for African migrants hoping to escape to Europe.

A migration adviser to the local government, Txema Santana, has since tweeted that on previous occasions the owner of the ship had to take charge of any stowaways on board and return them to the point of origin.

In a series of tweets that Yahoo News Australia has translated to English he explained that two of the trio are on board the ship again after being discharged from hospital.

“The third is still admitted and stabilised,” he wrote.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.