The Gambero, operated by the local firm Mare Blu and the same one that on Monday rescued another group of illegal migrants, was slowly steaming in a position 52 nautical miles south of Malta with its cage in tow, and at 2114CEST rescued the migrants from their boat after they had capsized in a north-westerly swell with 1.5 metre high waves and a wind of 10 to 15 knots.  

According to statement by the AFM, a nearby fishing vessel, the ANTONIO GENOVESE, relayed this priority information to the AFM's Operations Centre which immediately dispatched northwards the Maritime Squadron's Protector-class vessel P-52 to the area, which was already some 45 NM south of the incident's position.  

The AFM Centre continued throughout the night and into the early hours to co-ordinate the developing situation with MRCC Rome and MRCC La Garde in France, utilising initially the radio-relay services of the Italian Navy warship FENICE which was on patrol 100 NM from the scene and in closer proximity to Lampedusa.  Thanks to their help, a French Navy warship, the GERMINAL, was contacted and subsequently requested to dispatch its onboard helicopter to the GAMBERO's location.  

The French Navy warship GERMINAL scrambled into the air at 2232CEST its helicopter with a navy doctor and nurse onboard to render assistance to the rescued migrants on the GAMBERO, which had in the meantime reported that one migrant was missing in the water, another was in bad shape for the amount of seawater swallowed. A pregnant woman was amongst the rescued party, as well as a toddler of less than 12 months.  

The AFM states that at 2248CEST, the French Navy helicopter  had already lowered their doctor and nurse onto the GAMBERO where they stabilised a female casualty suffering a dislocated shoulder and the pregnant mother who had miscarried her child. The young infant was also reported in good health. The French helicopter maintained a search pattern in the immediate area for the missing migrant until the AFM's P-52 arrived on the scene at 0115CEST.  

Using the French frigate's leeway in the choppy seas, a mid-sea transfer of the 21 males, 4 females and infant was made from the GAMBERO by dinghy onto the AFM's P-52. At 0210CEST, P52 started making way towards its home berth at Haywharf Base in Floriana, where it made port at 0700CEST. The GERMINAL also conducted an early-bird patrol Friday morning for the missing migrant.