Migrant Crisis: ‘We would rather die trying than stay at home’

Our colleagues aboard the MSF Dignity were on the scene second to the LÉ Niamh, which was present and of course witnessed the whole catastrophe.

Its crew described a scene of disaster — with people in the water, lifejackets floating around, people clinging to anything they could to stay afloat and, of course, the grim reality of bodies in the water.

By the time we arrived on scene on the MY Phoenix, it was later in the day. There was seven or eight ‘assets’ —search and rescue boats, military boats from various EU countries, helicopters — all scouring the area for any survivors and bodies. That continued late into the night, by which stage hopes of recovering anyone or anything were slim to none.