SURVIVORS of a migrant boat which capsized out to sea were brought to safety at Almería port last night (Tuesday) after a woman and a 10-year-old girl lost their lives and a man went missing.
Today (Wednesday) the third victim's body was found in the sea.
The jerry-built craft went down near Alborán Island, about halfway between Almería and northern Morocco, carrying 32 sub-Saharan Africans desperate to reach Europe.
Like many who risk their lives daily in an attempt to escape poverty, political turbulence and armed conflict and never reach dry land again, three of the occupants drowned.
Red Cross workers rescued the remaining 22 men and seven women, and say all bar two of the migrants are in good health.
A pregnant woman said to be 'very ill', and another African whose condition has not been revealed, were air-lifted to hospital.
“Usually they cheer when they get on board the Coastguard craft, knowing they are now safely en route to their destination, but not today,” said the rescue boat captain.
“Nobody likes arriving with dead bodies on board, especially those of children.”
A girl of around 10 travelling with her mother became trapped under the toy-boat when it capsized, but it has not been confirmed whether the other victim, an adult woman, was her mother or no relation.
The second victim had gone into cardiac arrest when the craft reached Almería and was flown to hospital, but died before she got there.
Rescuers had been searching all night for the missing man, and his body was found this morning.
The blow-up goat was spotted by the Navy in Cartagena (Murcia) at around 15.50 yesterday near the Charrana area of the Moroccan coast.
Its occupants reached Almería port at around 22.10.
