A CEREDIGION woman has been helping those in need by volunteering for the Spanish equivalent of the British Red Cross – the Cruz Roja Española.

Clare Rutter was recently part of an emergency response when a boat containing dozens of asylum seekers from Africa landed at Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.

Clare, 36, is a former Cardigan Secondary School pupil and member of the 1st Aberporth and Parcllyn Air Scouts and the 3rd Cardigan Sea Scouts.

Six months ago she moved to Playa del Ingles in Gran Canaria where she works as a chef and joined the Cruz Roja Española as a volunteer.

Clare was called upon in the early hours of the morning to go to the aid of the asylum seekers who had endured a dangerous voyage.

 “At 5am we were called in to the local centre where we gathered equipment and supplies and headed to the port of Arguineguin as we had news of a small boat coming in crammed with migrants from Africa,” she said.

“There we set up a makeshift hospital and areas for the people to change their clothes, have food and drink and to get warm after their long, dangerous journey. They were transferred from their boat to the coastguard boat. This was a great experience to be helping these people after what one can only imagine they’ve been through, but very striking seeing what you would only normally see on the news. The sad looks on their faces, their dishevelled appearances, the obvious state of illness from their experience, it was all very hard-hitting.

“After dealing with 67 migrants and, six hours after being called out, we packed up and headed home."

Read the full feature in this week’s south editions of the Cambrian News, available in shops and online now