In 2021, Sky News is marking some of the century’s biggest news events through the personal stories of lives defined by unforgettable moments from the last 21-years.
In episode 4 of the 21-part series, Migrant Rescue, Sky News Correspondent Mark Stone, receives a desperate text message from Syrian refugee, Bassel Shekhany.
The date is January 15, 2016 and Shekhany explains that his family and fiancé, Zanzon, are adrift in the Aegean Sea, after setting out to reach Europe from the Turkish coast earlier that evening.
The crossing had already claimed the lives of thousands of refugees, many of whom were fleeing the war in Syria. Could he help?

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Migrant Rescue was written and produced by Rob Mulhern
Digital and research by Tom Gillespie
Special thanks to our contributors, Bassel and Zanzon Shekany, and Mark Stone
Archive, Simon Windsor
Recordings and sound design, Rob Mulhern
TV treatment, Hope Yeomans
TV output editor, Emily Deeker
Head of Radio, Sky News, Dave Terris
Design and graphics, Brian Gillingham
Social media, Chris Scott
Press and Marketing, Alexandra Horton
Email: [email protected]
For more on this story log on to www.skynews/storycast21
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