Afghan travels across Europe strapped under bus
Thursday, April 09, 2009
WARSAW (AFP) –
An Afghan youth survived a 30-hour journey from Athens strapped underneath a bus, only to discover that he had arrived in Poland and not his chosen destination Italy, border guards said Monday.
"The man, aged 19 years old, was hidden near the gear box, attached with a belt," Elzbieta Pikor, spokesman for the Polish border guard, told AFP.
Polish transport mechanics had discovered him as they were checking the bus.
"Italia?" the young man asked as he emerged from his hiding place after the 2,800-kilometre (1,700-mile) journey.
In fact, he had arrived in Nowa Deba, southern Poland, having picked the wrong bus, another from the same line having left Athens for Italy.
"He was exhausted, frozen and starving, but in good health," said Pikor.
The would-be immigrant had travelled through Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and Slovakia along the way, the gear cable scratching his face every time the bus changed gears.
An Afghan youth survived a 30-hour journey from Athens strapped underneath a bus, only to discover that he had arrived in Poland and not his chosen destination Italy, border guards said Monday.
"The man, aged 19 years old, was hidden near the gear box, attached with a belt," Elzbieta Pikor, spokesman for the Polish border guard, told AFP.
Polish transport mechanics had discovered him as they were checking the bus.
"Italia?" the young man asked as he emerged from his hiding place after the 2,800-kilometre (1,700-mile) journey.
In fact, he had arrived in Nowa Deba, southern Poland, having picked the wrong bus, another from the same line having left Athens for Italy.
"He was exhausted, frozen and starving, but in good health," said Pikor.
The would-be immigrant had travelled through Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and Slovakia along the way, the gear cable scratching his face every time the bus changed gears.
