By Ali Balli
MUGLA, Turkey (AA) – A Turkish police officer watched in tears a migrant child struggle for life after her boat capsized in the Aegean Sea off Turkey’s Mugla coast.
At least two children died after a boat carrying 34 irregular migrants sank early Monday off Bodrum district, the Turkish Coast Guard said.
Ela, carrying 34 irregular migrants, sank at 5:47 a.m. local time [0247GMT].
Policeman Harun Kilicoglu arrived at the scene following a distress call and grasped the 7-year-old girl. He rushed to the ambulance parked 100 meters away.
Paramedics gave her a cardiac massage as Kilicoglu watched in tears.
She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Turkey has been the main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.
