MADRID — A baby boy was born on a migrant dinghy while traveling to Spain’s Canary Islands earlier this week, Spain’s rescue service confirmed on Wednesday. They released a photo showing the newborn, his mother, and dozens of other migrants crowded on the boat.
The vessel was first spotted near the island of Lanzarote on January 6, coinciding with Spain’s Epiphany holiday, a day when local children traditionally receive gifts from the Three Kings.
When the coastguard arrived, both the mother and baby were reported to be in good health. The boat was carrying 60 people, including 14 women and four children.
Domingo Trujillo, captain of the rescue vessel, told TVE that the authorities were aware a pregnant woman was onboard. “The surprise was finding a baby who had been born just minutes before,” he said. “He was totally naked, and we estimate he was born 10 to 20 minutes earlier.”
The baby was being held by someone nearby, while the mother lay on the boat’s floor. “I wrapped him up, held him close to my chest, and gently patted him to stop him from crying,” Trujillo added.
Medics onboard recommended that the mother and baby be transported to a hospital by helicopter.
Alvaro Serrano Perez, the helicopter commander, told Reuters: “On this Three Kings Day, this was the best gift we could have received.”
The Canary Islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa, are struggling to manage a surge in irregular migration, primarily from Mali, Senegal, and Morocco.
In 2024, the region recorded a record 46,843 arrivals, marking the second consecutive year of record highs and accounting for 73% of Spain’s illegal migration, according to the latest data from the Interior Ministry.
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