Turkish Coast Guard officials rescued a young girl who was discovered floating on an inflatable mattress in the open ocean off the coast of Didim district in Aydın province. The child, whose name has not been released, was safely brought back to shore after a swift rescue operation.
Rescue Operation Details
According to a statement from the Turkish Coast Guard Command, a call for assistance was received reporting that a child had been swept away on an inflatable sea mattress. One Coast Guard Boat (TCSG-21) was immediately dispatched to the scene. The statement said: "Upon receiving information that a child had been swept away on an inflatable sea mattress off the coast of Didim district, Aydın province, and that a call for assistance had been made, one Coast Guard Boat (TCSG-21) was immediately dispatched to the scene."
"As a result of the initiated rescue operations, the child in question was taken aboard the Coast Guard Boat and transported to Didim Pier," the Coast Guard added. The girl was not harmed during the incident and was later seen sitting in a vehicle watching videos on a smartphone.
Social Media Reaction
The incident sparked outrage on Turkish social media, with many questioning the parents' supervision. One Instagram user wrote: "Where are this child's parents, I wonder?" Another commented: "I'm so sorry to hear about the trauma the child must be going through. So, are the parents still sunbathing?" However, the Coast Guard did not assign fault to any party, and the exact circumstances leading to the girl drifting out to sea remain unclear.
Similar Past Incidents
This is not the first time a child has become stranded at sea on an inflatable in Turkey. In 2015, a 10-month-old baby was separated from her parents while on an inflatable cot off the Turkish coast. That infant was rescued and reunited with her parents.
