Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 12th August 2022

Case name: 2022_08_12-ATL082

Situation: 57 travellers in distress in the Atlantic Ocean, rescued by Salvamento Maritimo and brought to the Canary Islands.

Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded

Place of Incident: Atlantic Ocean

Summary of the case: On Friday the 12th of August 2022, the Alarm Phone shift team was alerted by a relative to a group of 57 travellers, 50 men and seven women, in distress in the Atlantic Ocean. The travellers had left from Afkhenir two days before in the evening at 23.00 CEST. The relative gave us their last known position from the previous evening. At this time, their satellite phone was almost out of battery, and since then they were no longer reachable. We relayed all the information we had to the Spanish search and rescue organisation Salvamento Maritimo, who told us that they were already busy with search and rescue operations, but that they would take care of it. In the meantime, we continued to try reaching the boat but without success.

At 09.08 CEST the relative managed to get a new position from the travellers which we immediately forwarded to Salvamento Maritimo. The relative told us that the travellers were panicking and in need of urgent assistance.
We were able to continue updating Salvamento Maritimo with the position of the boat and updates about the situation onboard. One woman was sick, and at 14.15 CEST the travellers told us that they were almost out of fuel.
In the evening, Salvamento Maritimo told us that they were still searching for the boat. The following morning Salvamento confirmed to us that they had rescued the travellers.