A group of irregular migrants, including a mother and her three-day-old infant born at sea, was rescued by a Spanish patrol boat, the Rio Cervantes, presently part of the Frontex Operations.

Sources told The Malta Independent that the patrol boat intercepted a six-metre wooden boat carrying 26 people at around 8.30 on Monday evening. The mother had a newborn baby on board. She had given birth while on the voyage since they had been at sea for over seven days.

As the migrant vessel was 55 nautical miles from Lampedusa and 66 nautical miles from Malta, it was decided to embark all the migrants, especially the mother and infant, since both needed medical assistance, and proceed towards the nearest safe port.

It resulted that the infant had not had any milk or other sustenance since birth. However, sources said yesterday that the newborn was doing fine and was recovering from the ordeal, one of those little miracles of life.

Unfortunately, officials at Lampedusa, who were willing to take the migrants, could not provide medical assistance to the mother and her baby and recommended that the Spanish vessel proceed towards Malta instead.

On its part, Malta, considering the urgent medical needs of the mother and child immediately accepted this request by the Italian authorities and the Spanish patrol boat.

The Spanish vessel eventually transported all migrants – 21 males, five females and the child – to Malta where medical assistance was immediately given to the mother and her infant upon arrival at Hay Wharf just after 6am.

In a statement later yesterday, the police said a second group of irregular migrants was rescued some time later. The group consisted of 28 migrants, all of them men.

Police investigations are still under way.