‘I stopped counting’: doctor on discovering migrant boat dead
The 56-year-old doctor was on a mission with Doctors Without Borders on the Phoenix
Stiff lifeless bodies submerged in water -- it’s a sight Canadian doctor Simon Bryant won’t soon forget after he found dozens of dead migrants in the hold of a boat off Libya.
“Yesterday was a difficult day,” Bryant said in a Skype interview with AFP on Thursday.
The 56-year-old doctor was on a mission Wednesday with Doctors Without Borders on the Phoenix, a vessel dedicated to rescuing migrants, when he was asked to help the Swedish coast guard during their rescue of a wooden boat with over 450 people on board.
“I went over there, with one of our nurses...We quickly saw that there were three or four people who were improving on the deck, so I went back on to the wooden boat and below deck, and I discovered many dead bodies.”
Fifty-two dead bodies to be precise. People that left lives of poverty and countries wrenched by conflict in hopes of reaching Europe and a better life.
Bryant said that when he began examining the bodies, many of them were already stiff. Equipped with a headlight, and an air hose for air supply below deck, Bryant continued to look for possible survivors.
“I started checking people for signs of life, and I stopped counting after 24...”
The doctor said there were fumes from petrol in the hold.
“I just quickly checked for signs of life and moved on. There was water in the boat, some people were half in the water, face down...”
“When I came back up on top, there was a little more space and there were four bodies lying, but one of them was actually just barely breathing,” Bryant said.
The man was quickly taken to a hospital on the Italian island of Lampedusa via helicopter.
Bryant’s work was not over yet, however.
He then examined the other migrants on the boat, as well hundreds more rescued in the same area Wednesday.
Reflecting on the macabre scene in the boat, he said: “It’s not something that I want to do again.
“I didn’t sleep last night, afterwards. Actually, many of our staff just rested but didn’t sleep.”
According to the Italian coast guard, which coordinates rescue operations between Libya and Italy, around 3,000 migrants were rescued Wednesday, with another 1,400 rescued Thursday.
“When they come on board, we have the opportunity to speak with them. On the first day, most of them are exhausted, they sleep a lot.”
But soon, many of the migrants begin opening up about their journeys.
“After that you get to hear their stories, and it can be a very sad time, a very anxious time,” Bryant said.
Bryant calls the situation “avoidable” if there is enough of a global response. But more deaths are inevitable, the medic said.
“Unfortunately, there will be deaths, there will be many deaths...”
“These aren’t just numbers, these are people who have stories that we will never get a chance to hear.”
-
Refugee wave into hotspot Hungary hits new record high
Some 3,241 migrants, including almost 700 children, arrived in Hungary on Wednesday, the highest ever number World News -
Interactive: Mapping the EU migrant crisis
A record number of people are fleeing violence and poverty in countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea Features -
After Libya beatings, migrant teen dies on eve of Italy arrival
A 15-year-old Somalian who survived beatings and forced labor in Libya died on the final stretch of his journey Africa -
Syrian refugees among those rescued by Turkish coastguards
Two boats capsized in separate incidents off the coasts of Greece and Turkey with refugees and migrants among the rescued World News -
Thousands of migrants rush past police into Macedonia
Police stun grenades did not to stop the rush, but many fleeing migrants were chased down by policemen and severely kicked or beaten with batons World News -
Italy rescuing 3,000 migrants, 18 boats in trouble
At least seven boats - six Italian and one from Norway - were involved in an operation to get the migrants safely off 14 rubber dinghies World News -
On Syria: Germany stands out, stands up
They’re calling her “Mama Merkel,” sending her love messages on twitter and showing gratitude unseen recently for a Syrian or Arab leader Middle East -
Israel releases hundreds of migrants from desert facility
A recent court decision ordered Israel to release the illegal migrants held for more than a year Middle East -
Britain plans to crack down on illegal migrant workers
People found working illegally in England and Wales face up to six months in prison and could have their wages seized World News -
France, Britain in new push to curb migrant influx
Both countries will contribute police resources to a shared ‘command and control’ to halt migrants from entering World News -
We can’t take Muslim migrants as we don’t have mosques: Slovakia
The spokesman denied that the move was discriminatory and said the decision to accommodate only Christian migrants was to safeguard community cohesion Middle East -
Germany expecting 800,000 migrants in 2015, 4x last year
Thomas de Maiziere told reporters more than 360,000 migrants have flooded into Germany this year Middle East -
Lebanon: Nine Palestinians from Syria drown en route to Turkey
IOM estimates almost 2,350 migrants have died this year on sea journeys to Europe Middle East -
Migrants drowned in EU laziness and incompetence
Sadly, the public discourse regarding immigration in Europe became tainted with prejudice, sterotypes and racism Middle East -
Five migrants trying to reach Greece drown off Turkish coast
Five people have drowned off the Turkish coast as they tried to reach the Greek islands Middle East -
‘Don't come to Sweden!’ Syrian refugee warns migrants
Mahmoud Bitar is using social media to break myths Syrians he believes have about life in Sweden for migrants Variety -
At least 40 migrants die in Mediterranean
Mwanwhile, migrants on a Turkish beach scuffled over places on one dinghy in desperation to reach Kos Middle East -
Mediterranean migrant crossings in 2015 near 250k
Over the whole of last year, 219,000 made the risky crossing to Europe Middle East