Italian coastguard with migrants from Banksy-funded rescue boat arrives at Lampedusa island

An Italian coastguard vessel Saturday rushed to a rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy, which sent out a call for help with more than 200 migrants onboard, and took in 49 of the most vulnerable people on board. The German-flagged MV Louise Michel said it was stranded and needed urgent help after helping a boat carrying at least one dead migrant.

The 31-metre vessel's crew said it was overcrowded and unable to move after encountering another boat with 130 people on board trying to cross the sea dividing Europe and Africa. They were transferred to a vessel chartered by the German NGO Sea Watch and medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The rescued migrants later said three people had died at sea before the arrival of the Louise Michel.