A tragic incident occurred on Friday, August 7, when a Sub-Saharan African migrant lost his life while attempting to cross the border from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta via paragliding. The Spanish Civil Guard recovered his body from the waters north of Ceuta, marking a significant and unfortunate milestone as this represents the first recorded fatality of its kind on the Spanish side of the border.
The young man was reportedly trying to land in a vicinity close to the northern border of Ceuta when he lost control of his paraglider and fell into the sea. Following the detection of this perilous crossing attempt, the Civil Guard quickly mobilized their units, and maritime rescue teams were deployed to the scene. Despite their efforts to revive the young migrant, they were unable to save him.
According to reports from El Faro de Ceuta, this tragic event took place around 8 AM. The deceased's body was transported to the Civil Guard's maritime service base, where it awaits autopsy results. This incident is not an isolated case; it highlights the growing trend of Sub-Saharan migrants attempting to reach the Spanish enclave through various means, including paragliding, which has gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok.
Increasing Risks and Previous Attempts
Many migrants set off from Jbel Musa, a mountainous region in northern Morocco located just a few kilometers from Ceuta. In this elevated forest, hundreds of Sub-Saharan Africans seek refuge, hoping to cross the border at the Benzú area. Tragically, this is not the first time such attempts have ended in loss. Earlier in July, the bodies of two young men were discovered in the Jbel Musa mountains after they also attempted to cross into Ceuta by paragliding.
Ali, a Sudanese migrant who was recently interviewed by InfoMigrants, explained the dire situation: "There are many Sudanese here [in Jbel Musa]. We are between 400 and 600 in the forest, trying to reach Ceuta. Some of us have been here for several years. Often, we work in Morocco and then go to the forest to try to reach Ceuta. Only about 1% succeed in crossing the border; the rest spend a lot of time trying." This stark reality underscores the extreme challenges faced by migrants who often resort to dangerous methods to achieve their goal of reaching Europe.
The first known successful paragliding crossing occurred on October 3, 2025, when a Sub-Saharan man managed to reach Ceuta by air, having been spotted by the Civil Guard while flying with a pink parachute. He was safely taken to a reception center in Ceuta, but since that day, many others have made perilous attempts, often opting for risky swim crossings or climbing over barbed wire fences that tower several meters high, equipped with surveillance cameras and watchtowers. These crossing attempts, fraught with danger, can be deadly.
As reported by infomigrants.net.