Police have said that it was a 26-year old Chinese man who tragically lost his life after a large rock collapsed onto a jet ski he was riding off Comino, his passenger, a 27-year old Chinese woman, sustained grievous injuries.
The accident happened on Saturday evening, when a 32-year old American man attempted to jump from a natural rock arch, which collapsed beneath him.
The falling rock struck a jet ski passing directly underneath, both people on the jet ski were thrown into the sea.
The American was given assistance by a private boat and taken to Mgarr Harbour where he received medical attention, but did not require hospitalisation.
Civil Protection officers and Armed Forces of Malta personnel launched an immediate search and rescue operation.
Police said that the 27-year old woman was found soon afterwards and taken to Mgarr Harbour, Gozo, before being transferred to Gozo General Hospital. She was later certified to have sustained grievous injuries.
The search for the man continued until AFM divers found him trapped underwater beneath the rock, showing no signs of life. The man’s body was finally recovered from the seabed on Sunday evening, some 24 hours after the accident.
Magistrate Monica Vella has opened a magisterial inquiry.
Police investigations are ongoing.
File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary