Heartbreaking photo of drowned baby being cradled by a charity worker

A HEARTBREAKING photograph of a drowned migrant baby in the arms of a charity worker goes viral.

WARNING: Graphic and distressing image

The baby, who appears to be no more than a year old, was pulled from the sea off the coast of Italy on Friday after a wooden boat capsized reports Reuters.

German rescue organisation Sea-Watch, operating a rescue boat in the sea between Libya and Italy, released the picture taken by a media production company on board, in a bid to convince European authorities to ensure the safe passage of migrants.

In an email, the rescuer, who gave his name as Martin, said he had spotted the baby in the water “like a doll, arms outstretched”.

He said: “I took hold of the forearm of the baby and pulled the light body protectively into my arms at once, as if it were still alive … It held out its arms with tiny fingers into the air, the sun shone into its bright, friendly but motionless eyes.”

The rescuer, a father of three and by profession a music therapist, added: “I began to sing to comfort myself and to give some kind of expression to this incomprehensible, heart-rending moment. Just six hours ago this child was alive.”

More than 7,000 people have died in the Mediterranean since the start of 2014.

Sea-Watch collected around 25 other bodies, including another child, according to claims from the crew seen by Reuters. The Sea-Watch team said it unanimously decided to publish the photo.

They said: “In the wake of the disastrous events it becomes obvious to the organisations on the ground that the calls by EU politicians to avoid further death at sea sum up to nothing more than lip service.

“If we do not want to see such pictures we have to stop producing them.”

No words. Shattering!

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20 Comments

- - mom134803 said
  - 13 Jul 2016
    4:49 am
Aw, how terribly sad ! I hope and pray this will move the hearts from our government and leaders to help and give shelter to those who have to flee their countries. This world is our world !

- - stepmom107932 said
  - 28 Jun 2016
    8:33 pm
it brings light to a very human issue that is often examined in a harsh light where the humans are ignored.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 21 Jun 2016
    4:09 pm
I cried reading this article. When will governments listen that parents do not put their children in wooden boats unless there is something worse they are trying to leave.

- - mom90758 said
  - 01 Jun 2016
    5:19 pm
Poor little one! Too many people die trying to escape from a terrible life! 🙁

- - jacqbeckett said
  - 01 Jun 2016
    1:14 pm
sometimes a picture shows more words than saying a word verbally. we all need to see this even though its not nice at all as it hits us emotionally. god bless the baby and the rest.

- - mom156049 said
  - 01 Jun 2016
    11:20 am
This is too much to even look at. Just heartbreaking. No words :'(

- - Janine said
  - 01 Jun 2016
    10:01 am
This picture is heartbreaking! Let’s hope change is made to prevent this from happening again

- - mom160421 said
  - 31 May 2016
    11:12 pm
So many lives are being lost senselessly. My heart breaks for all those who are suffering.

- - leveestee said
  - 31 May 2016
    11:11 pm
This really puts it it on perspective! Poor baby. May they all rest in peace.

- - katith21 said
  - 31 May 2016
    10:35 pm
Just heartbreaking. My heart hurts for this little baby xx
RIP Little one

- - mom183717 said
  - 31 May 2016
    10:33 pm
Simple devastating, shattered my heart 🙁

- - mom81879 said
  - 31 May 2016
    10:15 pm
It us mind blowing that these people get on those boats with small children. They’re risking their children’s lives and often the price paid is in human lives

- - Sarah93 said
  - 31 May 2016
    9:32 pm
Absolutely heart wrenching. I really feel for these families, what horrors must they be trying to escape from to take such huge risks.
Bless this man for treating the baby with dignity and respect, and showing such love.

- - BellaB said
  - 31 May 2016
    9:30 pm
It’s particularly difficult when it’s a child.

- - Nas01 said
  - 31 May 2016
    8:44 pm
Truely heart wrenching. No words can truely sum up this and many more tragedies that have been the outcome of people trying to find asylum. It makes you wonder how bad they have it to take such risks.

- - Thejoysof3boys said
  - 31 May 2016
    8:33 pm
Sobbing. This is heartbreaking

- - mum4107 said
  - 31 May 2016
    8:25 pm
So sad. RIP little one

- - sharna_booth_weinrowski said
  - 31 May 2016
    8:25 pm
This should NOT be happening at all!

- - Jessica said
  - 31 May 2016
    8:01 pm
It’s easy how we don’t realize the impact until we see photos like this I picture my little baby! The dispair 🙁 praise that man to have such courage! As all volunteers and even workers I could never handle what they have to day and night,

- - mom112217 said
  - 31 May 2016
    7:52 pm
Thank god for Sea watch saving lives,well done!