A group of 84 migrants were brought to Malta yesterday following a night-time rescue operation in rough weather.

The weary travellers, many barefoot, claimed to be of Syrian and Ethiopian origin. They were all reported to be in good health.

The group of 77 men and seven women had originally refused to be rescued by the armed forces as they wanted to continue heading north towards mainland Europe.

An Armed Forces of Malta spokesman said a patrol boat had been tracking the migrants’ crowded dinghy for several hours before approaching.

“They didn’t want to be helped at first, this is a persistent issue,” the spokesman said.

The migrants were transferred aboard the AFM’s boat after their inflatable vessel started sinking in dangerously rough seas some 18 miles south of the island.

The exhausted group were brought to Haywharf at 8.45am and transported for processing.

Three weeks ago, a group of 86 migrants were rescued from a sinking dinghy in a similar night rescue operation.

Nearly 1,000 African migrants landed in Malta last month, the highest for July, prompting the Maltese government to request immediate EU help, amid a wave of xenophobic and racist comments.