An unemployed Tunisian university graduate drowned in the sea as she was attempting to cross the Mediterranean and reach Italian territory, according to Al Bayan.
The body of 26-year-old Ons Al Zawali was found washed ashore, 60 kilometres from her native town, Mahdia, in south-east Tunisia.
The young woman graduated three years ago from the Tunisian university but has since failed to find a job, like thousands of other graduates. She was also diagnosed with cancer and was hoping to reach Italy and get treated.
On March 15, Ons boarded a small fishing boat, along with her 24-year-old brother at night, embarking on the hazardous journey, in a desperate attempt to reach Eldorado.
They were accompanied by a Tunisian couple and their four-year-old daughter and five other young unemployed Tunisians, all from Mahdia.
Three days later, the shipwrecked fishing boat was found close to the coastline which plunged their families in deep despair, with little hope that they would see them alive again.
Fishermen from neighboring Sfax governorate found the body of Ons washed ashore in the region of Allouza. They found her waterproof mobile phone still intact in her pocket, which helped them telephone her uncle and inform him about her death.
The body of the "Bride of Mahdia" was recovered, ten days after she embarked on her hazardous journey, while the others are still missing.