A young man attempting to cross the sea from Morocco to Spain using only an inflatable swimming ring and flippers was rescued by a family aboard a yacht heading to the Balearic Islands. The incident occurred on July 16, approximately 13 nautical miles south of Benalmádena on the Costa del Sol. The family, according to Diario Sur newspaper, spotted something moving in the waves near the stern of an oil tanker and initially thought it was a bird. Using binoculars, they determined it was a person.
Video footage of the rescue, released by the Royal Association of Yacht Captains (RAECY), shows the exhausted man swimming toward the yacht, where crew members pulled him aboard with a rope. They immediately offered him water, clothes, and a cup of soup.
The rescued man was wearing a uniform and had only the inflatable life ring and flippers with him. He was visibly exhausted and barely spoke, according to RAECY. Shortly after, a rescue service boat picked him up and transported him to the Port of Málaga, where he was handed over to police and the Red Cross.
Watch the rescue video
Not an isolated incident
El País migration correspondent María Martín stated that such crossing attempts from North Africa to Spain using makeshift means are common, mainly by young men. Most target Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in Africa, however there are cases where they attempt to cross the entire Alborán Sea, as in this instance.
Similar cases have been recorded of people using inflatable boats, air mattresses, or even arm floaties purchased from Moroccan stores.
Spain’s Guardia Civil has acknowledged that such crossings are increasing, particularly during certain times of the year. According to the International Organization for Migration, 572 people lost their lives in 2024 attempting to reach Spain from North Africa, while 151 deaths have been recorded so far in 2025.
