A migrant who alleged he was the only survivor from a boat that had capsized during the night on the Mediterranean high seas was rescued yesterday by fishermen on the Maltese trawler Laura 2, the Armed Forces of Malta said yesterday.

International media reported yesterday that around 30 migrants are reported to have been lost at sea, believed drowned. However, the AFM did not confirm this report.

The surviving migrant claimed that they had been three days out at sea, and that he had been in the water for some five hours before being rescued by the Maltese trawler crew, the afm said.

The AFM Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (RCC) said it was informed early yesterday by the owner of the Maltese fishing trawler that they had recovered the irregular migrant, who claimed to be the only survivor when a boat had capsized during the night on the Mediterranean high seas.

Located some 75 nautical miles south of Malta, AFM senior RCC staff, Capt. J Grech and Warrant-Officer C. Lia immediately initiated a medical evacuation operation concurrent with a Search and Rescue mission, in case there were more survivors.

While an AFM Air Wing rescue helicopter was dispatched at 1.15pm to the trawler Laura 2, a PBN Islander aircraft carried out various search patterns in the area.

After the surviving migrant had been winched onboard the AFM Alouette rescue-helicopter at 2.10pm, he was taken to St Luke’s Hospital for medical treatment.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Andrew Seychel from the Immigration Branch was notified, and further investigations are still underway.