Baby Born on Migrant Dinghy During Treacherous Journey to Canary Islands

In a remarkable turn of events, a baby boy was born on a crowded dinghy crowded with migrants during their perilous crossing from Africa to the Canary Islands this week. The incident, reported by Spanish coast guards, occurred on January 6, coinciding with the Epiphany celebration in Spain. The vessel was spotted near Lanzarote, where rescuers found the newborn shortly after delivery.

The Spanish coast guard shared the touching story along with photographs of the baby and his mother, among other migrants aboard the inflatable raft. According to Captain Domingo Trujillo, although they were aware of the pregnant passenger, the birth came as a surprise. "We found a totally naked baby who was born just minutes earlier," he recounted. After the rescue, both mother and baby were airlifted to a hospital in Lanzarote for medical evaluation, with no reported complications.

Speaking to Reuters, helicopter commander Álvaro Serrano Pérez remarked, "Given that it was Three Kings Day, this was the best gift we could have received." The journey across the Atlantic from Africa to the Canary Islands has become increasingly perilous, with over 46,800 undocumented migrants attempting the journey last year alone, according to recent data from the Spanish government. The Epiphany, known as "El Dia de los Reyes," is a significant holiday in Spain, where children eagerly await gifts from the Three Kings, making this birth on the dinghy a poignant reminder of hope amidst desperate circumstances.