Yasmine, an 11-year-old girl from Sierra Leone, was rescued at dawn near Lampedusa by the crew of the Trotamar III. She is the sole known survivor of a shipwreck that reportedly claimed the lives of around 44 people. Taken to the hotspot in Contrada Imbriacola and now under the care of the Italian Red Cross, Yasmine is receiving multidisciplinary support, including psychological care. Speaking with her rescuers, she recounted how she had been adrift for days, holding on to two inflatable tubes amidst stormy seas. However, medical reports suggest she may have misjudged the duration, a confusion likely caused by the severe trauma she endured.
Medical examinations revealed that Yasmine was not in hypothermia and was instead found to be in relatively stable condition, suffering only mild dehydration. Experts suggest survival in the frigid Mediterranean waters for more than 15 hours would have been nearly impossible, raising questions about the timeline of events. The child’s accounts are under investigation, with officials noting the absence of typical debris from the shipwreck in the search area. Despite the stormy conditions, the sea held no immediate evidence of the tragedy, adding complexity to the ongoing inquiry.
The Agrigento Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into potential manslaughter and human smuggling. Meanwhile, the German NGO Compass Collective, whose crew heard Yasmine’s cries for help, remains in Lampedusa while their skipper and team are questioned by authorities. The tragedy casts a harsh light on the perils faced by migrants in the Mediterranean and the relentless dangers of the journey in search of safety.
