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Article: Children cross busy straits in dinghy
- Article from:
- The Irish Times
- Article date:
- September 17, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Irish Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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SIX SCHOOLBOYS have been rescued after trying to paddle to Europe
from Africa in a toy dinghy.
The youngsters were picked up by coastguards a mile off the south
coast of Spain after spending more than six hours dodging oil
tankers in the busy Straits of Gibraltar.
They used wooden sticks as oars and had just mineral water,
chocolate and dates for food.
Police believe they may be as young as seven, although five of
the boys have claimed they are aged 10 or 11 and one 16.
Last night they were recovering at a children's centre in the
Spanish port of Algeciras. Local authorities described the
children's death-defying attempt to reach Europe as the first of its
kind. The youngsters are thought to ...