The Italian coast guard has rescued 49 of the 219 people stranded on a rescue boat off the coast of Libya. 

The boat was funded by the British artist Banksy, and is still stranded in the Mediterranean. 

The crew of the vessel, named after the French feminist anarchist Louise Michel, claimed that they were reaching a state of emergency, and could not move because of the large number of refugees on-board.

The crew of 10 also said they are being helped by Sea-Watch International, an NGO that rescues migrants crossing the Mediterranean. 

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Before receiving aid, the crew tweeted: "[Louise Michel] is unable to safely move and nobody is coming to our aid.

"The people rescued have experienced extreme trauma, it's time for them to be brought to a [place of safety]."

They added that one person has already died on the boat, and that three others had died before they were rescued. 

The boat is crewed by a group of European activists with experience in search and rescue operations.

In a recording, a volunteer on the boat described finding people stranded in desperate situations.

"I would say that it was pretty nice that we arrived at that time because a few hours later, maybe some people would have fallen overboard or would have gotten more," she said.

"It would have been even worse, in worse medical conditions for example.

"And you always have to keep in mind that desperate people can also jump into the water.

"Many people can't swim. And, yeah, I was pretty happy that we arrived."

The Louise Michel crew also said some of the other migrants have fuel burns. 

An Italian charity ship called Mare Jonio is also heading to the Louise Michel to help, stating that "helping these people is a question of life or death." 

The Louise Michel is just one of three rescue boats currently stranded and awaiting aid in the Mediterranean. 

A commercial vessel called the Maersk Etienne has been stranded for three weeks after rescuing 27 migrants and refugees on 5 August.

And another 200 people are stranded on a Sea Watch 4 NGO vessel.

The UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization of Migration have issued a joint statement calling on immediate disembarkation of more than 400 migrants stranded on the boats.