August 11, 2025: After rescuing 67 people in distress at sea in the morning, a pregnant woman’s water broke on the civil rescue ship Sea-Watch 5. Although she encounters rare complications requiring urgent land-based medical attention, no coastal state carried out a medical evacuation yet. The mother and baby are in mortal danger. The previous night, six more people were rescued from distress at sea. There are now 73 people on board the rescue ship.
Giulia Messmer, spokesperson for Sea-Watch, comments:
We demand immediate medical evacuation! Italy and Malta must face up to their responsibility. The lives of the mother and her unborn child are in acute danger. Enough with the political maneuvers!
On the morning of August 11, the Sea-Watch crew, in cooperation with the civil aircraft Colibri 2 of the organization Pilotes Volontaires, rescued a boat in distress with 67 people on board. During the rescue, a ship belonging to the so-called Libyan coast guard approached. This Libyan militia operates in the Mediterranean with funding and support from European member states and the border agency Frontex in order to illegally abduct fleeing people to Libya. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded more than 21,000 people illegally intercepted in the Mediterranean in 2024 alone and their deportation to Libya, where they face arbitrary detention, slavery, and sexual violence.
After all persons had been safely transferred to the Sea-Watch 5, the water of the 9-month pregnant woman broke. Initially, it appeared that the birth would be quick, and a medical evacuation was therefore planned in cooperation with the Italian authorities after the birth. However, the pregnant woman’s condition deteriorated dramatically. According to a medical assessment by the doctors on board, the affected woman requires medical care on land due to rare complications. The Sea-Watch 5 submitted the renewed request for medical evacuation already at 2:15 p.m CEST today.
The Sea-Watch 5 is currently sailing at full speed towards Lampedusa. Neither the Italian, Maltese nor Tunisian authorities have yet launched a medical evacuation.
