Rescued man says he let go of son (6) at sea to save others

Greek coastguard crews are searching for the body of a six-year-old boy and have recovered the body of another child after the boat they were on sank near the island of Kos.

The coastguard said one of the 14 survivors of the overnight sinking told rescuers he let go of the body of his young son to save his remaining family members. Ten people were rescued from the water, and four managed to swim to shore.

It comes as Greek ferries are tied up in port for a fourth day, trapping thousands of refugees on eastern Aegean islands as well as stranding tens of thousands of residents and preventing agricultural produce from reaching mainland markets.

The anti-austerity strike, which began on Monday, is to continue until Friday morning. Pressure has mounted on the seamen’s union to allow exceptions for ferries chartered to transport the refugees and other migrants.

More than 600,000 people have reached Greece from Turkey this year, with the vast majority aiming to move on to more prosperous countries in the European Union's north.

After receiving registration papers on the islands, the refugees take ferries to the mainland, from where they head to the northern border.