Charlie SmithTHE teenage boy who rescued a huge sunfish stranded among some rocks near Gibraltar has been praised by the Government.
Alexander Sanchez-Soiza, 13, was dubbed the ‘sunfish rescuer’ after he saved the life of the large animal in September.
The young hero, who volunteers with marine environmental group the Nautilus Project, dived into the sea at Camp Bay to rescue the beast.
The teen stayed with the animal, gently holding it, until a Department of Environment boat arrived and escorted it to safety.
Alexander has now been commended for his ‘brave commitment to the environment’ by Minister for the Environment, Professor John Cortes.
The GSLP politician is currently on the campaign trail before Gibraltar goes to the polls for its General Election on Thursday.
Cortes invited Alexander to the Ministry and ‘thanked him for his inspiring and exemplary efforts’, according to a Government statement.
It added that Alexander wants to ‘become a marine biologist’, like his step-father and Nautilus Project leader, Lewis Stagnetto.
Cortes said: “It is wonderful to see this kind of brave commitment to the environment by a young man like Alex.
“He can be well proud, as I am of him and of all the youth who are so committed to the wellbeing of the environment and of the planet.”
Found in temperate and tropical oceans, sunfish can grow up to 11 feet long and weigh up to 2.5 tonnes.
They can also be mistaken for sharks due to their size.
