CROTONE - Lifeguards and tourists in Crotone rescued a migrant vessel off the Calabrian shore, handing out water and carrying out basic first aid before rescue services arrived, reported local sources.

 Washed up onto the shores of the Capopiccolo and Sovereto beaches, in Isola Capo Rizzuto, Crotone, a sailboat carrying 54 people was rescued by beach-goers on Tuesday morning.

 The people aboard the shipwrecked vessel were a mixture of Syrians and Kurds; 11 of whom were children, six were women and 37 were men.

 Shortly after the emergency rescue by beach-goers, the Italian Coast Guard, of the State Police, the Carabinieri, the Italian Guardia di Finanza and the Italian Red Cross arrived.

 People swimming in the sea saw the shipwrecked vessel and alerted life guards, prompting the unofficial rescue. The migrants are at the Sant'Anna hub, confirmed the Italian Coast Guard services.

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