Four young migrants found by Tarifa ferry engines

FOUR minors have been found hiding by the engines of a ferry covering the Tanger-Tarifa route.

The four, who were wearing wetsuits but still required immediate treatment for hypothermia upon detection, were found by police officers carrying out a routine search of the ship upon arrival at Tarifa in Cadiz.

This brings the number of underage minors found in the area trying to illegally enter Spain hidden on ships and ferries up to 36 so far this year.

A National Police force spokesman explained that this is a very risky way to travel, stressing: “Although they were wearing wetsuits, the youngsters wouldn’t have stood much chance of surviving if they had fallen into the water.

“If this had happened while docking they could have been sucked into the engines, and if they had fallen at sea they would have drowned unless they were spotted and rescued quickly.”

After receiving treatment from Red Cross workers, the four young migrants were taken to Algeciras police station where the child protection protocols were set rolling.