Updated | 45-year-old US national, married to Maltese, found dead

A body found on the rocks at the foot of the cliffs in l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha, belongs to 45-year-old James Patrick Aitken.

The police were informed of the discovery at 4:50pm however the police could not provide further details on the dead body.

Police have not ruled out that the man, believed to be an American national, slipped from the cliffs. While there are indications he may have been a private investigator, the Police have not yet confirmed the information.

Reports that Aitken may have been working for "an embassy", have been described as "rumours" by sources.

The man, married to a Maltese woman, was not reported missing to the Police and it is believed that he may have died today.

According to media reports, the corpse was discovered by a foreigner who was taking pictures in the area. A grey car, with the keys still in the ignition, was found in the area.

The operation to recover the corpse required the assistance of members of the Civil Protection Department and the Armed Forces of Malta who assisted the Police. An ambulance was on site.

Sources said court expert Dr Mario Scerri carried out a preliminary medical check on site, and no marks of violence were found on the body, but it was highly unlikely that he fell the height of the cliffs. One of the lines of investigation being followed is that the man could have walked down a path on the cliffs, and fainted close to the spot where he was found.

In October, 47-year-old Paul Grech was discovered dead in the same area after being stabbed in the heart.