He is sensitive to electromagnetism -- a syndrome that could be entirely psychosomatic -- and wraps himself in a metallic space blanket when the signal is fraying his nerves most.
The rescued migrants huddle in space blankets, plastic sheets layered with vaporized aluminum that shield them from brisk sea winds and help retain body heat.
In the gruesome aftermath of the attack, one iconic photograph showed a small girl lying dead under a space blanket, with her doll lying alongside her.