Moroccan man found on surfboard trying to float to Cadiz 

A MERCHANT ship has rescued a Moroccan man who was heading towards the coast of Cadiz on a surfboard. 

The would-be immigrant shouted for help as he was having problems staying afloat and was off course.  

According to a spokesman for Salvamento Marítimo, (Maritime Rescue) the rescue took place at 8.46pm on Tuesday (July 16) when one of the ships transiting the Straits of Gibraltar noticed the presence of a person on a surfboard. 

Next, the ship rescued the immigrant, who requested help in navigation when he was about 30 miles northwest of Ceuta. 

Rescue boat La Salvamar Atria, based in Ceuta port, met the boat and took the immigrant to Ceuta marina, where he arrived at 00.15 am on Wednesday. The immigrant, around 30 years old, had severe symptoms of hypothermia due to the low temperature of the sea, so he had to be treated by Red Cross staff. 

He will be transferred to the offices of the National Police and then sent back to Morocco under the Aliens Act.