(PR 381/26)
Man Dies in Comino Rockfall Incident
Saturday, at around 7:15 p.m. (1915 hrs), the police were called to assist after a large rock fell onto people who were on a jet ski near Comino.
Police immediately responded to the scene, and preliminary investigations revealed that a 32-year-old American man was about to jump from a natural rock arch when it collapsed beneath him. The falling rock struck a jet ski that was passing directly underneath at the time. A Chinese man and woman who were riding the jet ski were thrown into the sea.
The American man was rescued from the water by a private boat and taken to Mġarr Harbour, where he received medical assistance but did not require hospital treatment.
Civil Protection Department officers and members of the Armed Forces of Malta were called to the scene and launched a search and rescue operation.
A short time later, the 27-year-old Chinese woman was rescued and brought to Mġarr Harbour in Gozo. She received medical treatment at the scene before being taken by ambulance to Gozo General Hospital, where she was certified as having sustained grievous injuries.
Meanwhile, the search continued for the 26-year-old Chinese man who had also been on the jet ski. Tragically, he was found by Armed Forces divers trapped beneath the rock underwater, with no signs of life. Due to the circumstances in which his body was found, the recovery operation continued throughout Sunday, and his body was recovered late in the evening.
Magistrate Dr Monica Vella LL.D. was informed of the case and has opened a Magisterial Inquiry.
Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.