Earlier this afternoon a 20-year old British man died after he found himself in difficulties while swimming at Comino.

At 3.25 pm today the Operations Centre of the Armed Forces of Malta received a call stating that a young man required urgent medical evacuation from Santa Maria area in Comino.

An AFM Alouette III helicopter was scrambled to the area with a rescue diver onboard. P32, the Maritime Squadron patrol vessel stationed in Gozo, was immediately diverted to the area to render assistance.

The young British male was with his parents touring the Comino caves. The 20 year old British male was diving from one cave to another and eventually got stuck to the rocks beneath the caves. The victim’s father called for help and a number of people in the area started diving and searching for him. After several attempts they managed to get him back out but the victim was not breathing. CPR was performed by the people present but the victim remained in the same state.

A boat that happened to be passing by transferred the victim to the rocks whilst continuing to administer CPR. In the meantime P32 arrived on the scene and two of the crew (trained in first aid) were sent on the ground to assist and clear the area for the helicopter to perform the rescue in a safe manner.

The Alouette helicopter arrived on the spot and with the help of the rescuer, airlifted the victim. The young British man was taken to Mater Dei Hospital.

The parents of the young man were eventually transferred to Cirkewwa were an Ambulance was waiting. The father of the victim was suffering from shock.

The victim was declared dead at 5.15pm local time.

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