An 11-year-old shipwreck survivor's story is one of remarkable survival against all odds. In a press release on Wednesday, Dec. 11, skipper Matthias Wiedenlübbert shared the incredible details of how they heard the child's voice despite the engine running. Wiedenlübbert works with CompassCollective, a German charitable organization dedicated to sea rescue missions.

Surviving the Storm at Sea

Their metal boat, carrying migrants, had set off from Sfax, Tunisia, and unfortunately sank off the coast of Lampedusa in Italy. CompassCollective stated that the child was likely the only one of the 45 people on board to survive the several-day storm in the central Mediterranean. She had been adrift at sea for an agonizing three days.During the storm with over 23 knots and 2.5-meter high waves, it seemed hopeless to find other survivors. But against all expectations, the child's voice was heard. Authorities recounted her miraculous survival, noting that she was "responsive" when the crew members aboard the Trotamar III arrived. Despite having no drinking water or food for three days and suffering from hypothermia, she was still alive.CompassCollective's Katja Tempel told The Associated Press, "She was exhausted and tired and cold, but in general, she was fine when we fetched her out of the water."The girl, whose identity remains undisclosed, is from Sierra Leone. She revealed that she was able to survive in the open waters by using two improvised life rings made from air-filled inner tubes and a simple life jacket to stay afloat.There were initially two other individuals with the girl in the waters, but as time passed, she lost contact with them. "We don't know what happened to the people," Tempel said. "We assume that they all drowned, but we don't know for sure."Since CompassCollective began operations in August 2023, the organization has "supported a total of 1653 people in distress at sea." This emphasizes the importance of their work in such critical situations.Even in the midst of storms, people are forced to take risky escape routes across the Mediterranean. As Tempel said, "We need safe passages for refugees and an open Europe that welcomes people and gives them easy access to the asylum system. Drowning in the Mediterranean is not an option."In this festive period when most of us are fortunate to be with our loved ones, Nicola Dell'Arciprete, head of the U.N. children's agency UNICEF in Italy, expressed his thoughts. "Yet another tragedy that increases the number of dead and missing in the Central Mediterranean."This story serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity. It also highlights the crucial work of organizations like CompassCollective in saving lives at sea.