Sixty-seven illegal immigrants, including a pregnant woman and her four-year-old son, were rescued in rough sea by the Russian registered bulk carrier Yelena Shatrova in Malta's search and rescue region, the Armed Forces of Malta said yesterday.

The woman and the boy were later evacuated from the bulk carrier by the Italian Military Mission AB212 SAR helicopter and airlifted to Mater Dei Hospital.

The Italo-Maltese crew on the helicopter was under the command of Major Massimo Bandini. AFM Surgeon Major Giacinto Bartolo and rescuer Lance Bombardier Derek Pepe were lowered onto the vessel to check the state of health of the rescued migrants.

The remaining immigrants were transferred to a patrol boat, which was expected at its base at Haywharf last night.

A spokesman for the AFM said the mid-sea transfer of the immigrants took place about two miles off St Paul's Bay, as weather conditions were not suitable for this operation to take place elsewhere.