Spanish fishermen and coast guard officials on Thursday rescued 22 undocumented immigrants, 13 of whose companions had died of thirst and hunger while attempting to cross from Africa to Spain. A fishing vessel spotted the boat carrying 23 migrants about 200 kilometres south of the Canary Island of El Hierro. The fishermen gave food and drink to the immigrants who said they had been adrift without drinking or eating for eight days and they had thrown 12 bodies overboard. The 13th victim died on board the fishing vessel. Rescuers used a helicopter to evacuate five migrants who were in the weakest condition. They were hospitalized in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The fishing vessel was expected to bring the others in by early Friday. --SP 2335 Local Time 2035 GMT
