In a moving story of courage and determination, a 39-year-old Moroccan woman without legs arrived in Spain’s Canary Islands after surviving a dangerous three-day sea journey. Her name is Gilzan, and despite being a double-amputee since childhood, she never gave up on her dream of a better life.
Gilzan lost both legs at just four years old after a tragic road accident. Since then, she had relied on a wheelchair. But in late July, she left her wheelchair behind and joined 39 other African migrants on a small dinghy that set off from Agadir, Morocco, on July 27. Her journey was long and difficult — about 460 kilometers over open sea — but her spirit never broke.
After three days at sea, the boat was spotted and rescued near Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, by a Spanish sea patrol. All 40 migrants, including Gilzan, were safely brought to the port of Arrecife on July 30.
When she arrived, Gilzan’s joy was clear to everyone around her. According to the Red Cross volunteers who helped her off the boat and gave her a new wheelchair, she smiled brightly and shared her story of strength and hope. “She was crazy happy. She had done it,” one of the volunteers told local media.
Gilzan said she had one goal: to help her mother, who still lives in Casablanca, Morocco. Although she did not explain how she traveled from Casablanca to Agadir or where she left her old wheelchair, she explained that it was the support of other migrants that helped her survive the tough journey. Among the passengers were nine other women from North Africa, who stood by her side during the trip.
Her inspiring story has touched the hearts of many. Gilzan is currently staying at a migrant center in Lanzarote run by the humanitarian group ACCEM. The organization said they plan to move her to mainland Spain, where she hopes to find work and begin a new chapter in her life.
Gilzan’s experience shows the power of resilience and human kindness. Despite physical challenges and risks, she leaped for a better life, and thanks to her courage and the solidarity of fellow migrants, she made it.
Her journey also reflects the wider migration challenges between Africa and Europe. According to recent reports, Morocco stopped nearly 80,000 attempts to reach Europe in 2024 alone, showing the scale of migration pressure and the risks people are willing to take in search of opportunity.
But for Gilzan, her arrival is just the beginning. With her strong will and support from NGOs and volunteers, she is now looking forward to building a life filled with dignity, purpose, and hope.