A newborn baby girl has died of hypothermia shortly after arriving on the Italian island of Lampedusa following a perilous sea crossing from Tunisia.
According to the Ebrima Migrants Situation platform, the infant, believed to be just over a month old, was rescued along with 55 other migrants in the early hours of Sunday, May 17, 2026, by a Guardia di Finanza patrol boat. Despite being brought to shore, the baby succumbed to the cold soon after arrival.
At approximately 4:30 a.m., the group—comprising men, women, and six minors from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone—disembarked at the Favarolo pier. Among them was the baby and her mother, originally from Ivory Coast. The child was found to be in critical condition and was immediately transferred to the island’s outpatient clinic, where doctors pronounced her dead despite attempts to save her.
Authorities confirmed that the baby succumbed to severe hypothermia, a result of exposure during the crossing. The Agrigento Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation to verify the cause of death and reconstruct the circumstances of the journey. An autopsy has been ordered, and the mother will be interviewed in the coming hours. She is currently receiving psychological support at the Lampedusa migrant hotspot after being discharged from medical care.
The migrants reported that they had departed from Sfax-El Amra, Tunisia, around 2:00 a.m. the previous day, traveling in a 7-meter metal boat. Each passenger is believed to have paid between €400 and €600 for the crossing. The baby’s body will be transferred to the mortuary at Cala Pisana cemetery.
This tragedy underscores the deadly risks faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe across the Mediterranean, where overcrowded and unsafe vessels, combined with harsh conditions, continue to claim lives.
