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Bulgarian berry pickers heading home

Most of the Bulgarian berry pickers stranded outside the country's embassy in Stockholm in recent days had returned home by Sunday morning with officials hoping that the remainder will have been helped by Monday.

Published: 22 July 2012 11:08 CEST

Around 15 berry pickers remained outside the embassy on Sunday morning from the around 200 who had gathered to seek help after having been allegedly lured to Sweden on the false promise of work.

“We managed to help some with tickets home yesterday and today (Sunday), a further six fly home. We hope that all will have returned home by tomorrow,” said Tatiana Petrova at the embassy.

There remain a large number of Bulgarian berry pickers currently located around Sweden, but the embassy has not been contacted by any more people seeking help.

Some 200 Bulgarian berry pickers gathered outside the Bulgarian embassy in central Stockholm towards the end of the week after promises of work bore no fruit.

Around 40 of the beleaguered Bulgarians set up camp in a bus parked outside the embassy as staff worked to secure tickets home.

According to Swedish police the berry pickers had been in Jämtland in northern Sweden.

As The Local reported last week a number of Bulgarians had been imported into Sweden on the promise of work during the berry picking season but were then left to fend for themselves in the forests.

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Could street hawker hero be rewarded with Spanish residency and a right to work?

Gorgui Lamine Sow was presented with a Superman T-shirt by the man he saved. Photo: Gorgiou Lamine Sow

A petition registered on change.org is lobbying for Lamine, who arrived from Senegal by boat two years ago, to be given residency and work papers in recognition of his saving the life of Alex Caudeli on Friday.

Lamine scaled a wall and entered the burning building, lifted Caudeli, who is unable to walk following a long illness, over his shoulder and brought him to safety after a heater caused a fire in his first floor room.

But as quickly as he had appeared, he vanished; before anyone had a chance to thank him or find out his name.

The Local tracked him down on Monday thanks to Roberta Etter, who lives next door to Caudeli and witnessed the extraordinary rescue.

Gorgui Lamine Sow carried Alex Caudeli over his shoulder to safety. Photo: Roberta Etter

The 20-year-old shared details of his life describing how he lived in one drafty room with his girlfriend, Gana, and seven-month-old daughter Ndye, and that as a family they travelled 40km each day by bus from Gandia to eek out a living selling bracelets in Denia’s port.

On Tuesday he was more positive saying reaction to his story had been huge and he hoped it might result in regularization and a more steady life for him and his family.

“I hope to get papers and a home so we can live here peacefully in Spain,” he told The Local by telephone.

“I’d really like to be a truck driver,” he revealed.

Just as the petition was launched, the mayor of Denia said he has asked the central government to fast track residency for Lamine and local media reported that the request is currently being analysed.

Denia’s town hall also plans a ceremony to recognise Lamine with a bravery award.

On Tuesday Lamine met the man whose life he saved. Caudeli, who was discharged from hospital on Monday after being treated for burns, had bandages on his face and hands

“It was great to meet him and see him doing ok,” Lamine told The Local after the meeting. “He gave me a superman T-shirt and one for the baby.”

It's not the first time that a heroic act changed the life of an illegal immigrant. Last year France awarded citizenship to Mamoudou Gassama, an immigrant from Mali who scaled an apartment building in Paris to save a child clinging to the outside of a balcony. He is now a firefighter.

To sign the petition CLICK HERE

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