A dawn different from usual has illuminated the crystalline waters of Lampedusa. Last September 25th, as the sun rose over the horizon, a group of tourists aboard the Maria Sole, a tourist vessel linked to the Sole Hotel, found themselves living an experience that left a profound mark on them.
The peaceful cruise turned into a dramatic rescue when, on the horizon, a small iron boat appeared, overloaded with people, sending out desperate distress signals.
Without hesitation, the captain Frank Roger, 69 years old Napoli, and his crew alerted the Coast Guard and headed towards the vessel in difficulty.
“We couldn’t turn away,” says Mina, one of the tourists on board. “We saw fear and desperation in the eyes of those people. It was as if they were begging us for help.”
The Coast Guard, engaged in other rescue operations, arrived shortly thereafter, but in the meantime, water began to invade the precarious vessel. migrants, mainly from African and Middle Eastern countries, were terrified.
Among them, a little girl, held tightly in her mother's arms, seemed to embody the fragility and hope of all.
“It was a heartbreaking scene,” says Elena Begliomini, 67, of Bologna. “I saw in their eyes the same fear I would have had in that situation. I touched that little girl’s cheek to give her some comfort, and I felt a lump in my throat.”
One by one, the migrants were transferred to the Maria Sole, a vessel that could accommodate a maximum of nine people. But humanity prevailed over the rules, and everyone found a place on board.
“We did what anyone would have done in our place,” says Captain Ruggiero. “We were all united by a single feeling: the desire to help others.”
After the rescue, the Maria Sole reached the port of Cala Pisana, where the migrants were taken care of by the authorities. The tourists, deeply moved by the experience, continued their vacation with a new look at reality.
“This adventure changed my life,” confides Maria Rita, another tourist. “I understood that solidarity has no boundaries, and that each of us can make a difference.”
Article published on 27 September 2024 - 14:25
