Two Saudi students have succeeded in rescuing a Tunisian boat crew consisting of three persons after it had been lost in the Mediterranean for 58 days due to engine failure.
Al Jazeera Saudi newspaper cited one of the boat crewmembers as saying that on the second day of leaving one of the seaports in Malta on the 13th of December 2000 for Tunisia, the engine of their boat was broken down. He added that “we decided to return to the Maltese coasts as we were not far away from them, but the wind threw the boat in all directions and so our adventure started in the sea from that day.”
The crewmember said that they adhered to a very strict food regimen for 20 days fearing to run out of food. He indicated that they had spent about 58 days in the sea waiting for help from any ships or boats passing by. Despite their use of all means calling for help including fire setting at night and the use of siren, the crew was not rescued.
“On the 10th of last February, one of the Saudi oil tankers rushed for rescuing us. Two Saudi trainees on board of the tanker insisted to save us after they had seen the Tunisian flag on our boat. We were moved to the tanker where we received all care from its crew until we arrived in Malta after six days and then to Tunisia,” added the crewmember --Albawaba.com
