A service was held yesterday in memory of the seven Lanzarote fishermen who died 45 years ago on their boat Cruz del Mar.
The incident took place when 20 armed men boarded the fishing boat while it was working off the coast of Morocco. The men opened fire, killing seven of the crew immediately, while another three leapt into the ocean. The boat was then blown up with explosives, and the three survivors were later rescued by another fishing boat.
Chano Cañada, Alfredo Marrero, Amador Hernández, Rafael Salas, José María Hernández, Juan Suárez and Agustín Hernández all lost their lives in the attack, which is believed to have been carried out by the Polisario organization.
Each year since, family and friends have gathered at a solitary cross on the Islote del Francés to mark their loss. Later, a small lighthouse sculpture was designed by Juan Brito and constructed at Puerto Naos, in honour of the victims.
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