Twin Algerian Swimmers Found Dead After Attempting Sea Crossing to Ceuta

The victims’ family is in shock after learning the sad news. "They were born together and died together," said one of the twins’ brothers to El Faro de Ceuta. The twins had tied themselves together to make the crossing with a friend, Sohaib, who is still missing. "That’s life. They were born on the same day, linked by an umbilical cord. They died on the same day, attached by a single thread," laments their brother.

Ayoub and Choaib, as well as their friend, were perfectly capable swimmers, having done lifesaving training in Algeria. The two twins had been practicing a very popular sport in Algeria, Vovinam Viet Vo Dao, a Vietnamese martial art, since a very young age. They had even won many titles. Ayoub was a champion in this discipline, while his brother Choaib was an excellent lifeguard and an expert in rescue.

The three unfortunate companions found themselves in difficulty at sea and sent a distress message before going missing. The twins’ family had launched several SOS calls to try to find them. Without success. Like many young people who risk their lives to reach Ceuta by swimming, they have probably succumbed to the cold, fatigue or drowned. The family is studying the possibilities to repatriate their bodies to Algeria.