Updated | Decomposing corpse found off Ramla l-Hamra beach in Gozo

A decomposing corpse has been found on the beach at Ramla l-Hamra, in Gozo. The identity of the body is as yet unconfirmed, and an autopsy will now be carried out to ascertain whether it belongs to Bence Muriani, a 17-year-old Hungarian who went missing after taking a swim in rough waters at Ghaq Qawqla, Marsalforn.

Civil Protection Department officials collected the body at sea to hand it over to police officers in Mgarr. Sources close to the CPD told MaltaToday that the body was in an advanced state of decomposition and had been floating in the sea for around a week.

Muriani, who was on holiday in Malta, was swimming with his 15-year-old brother at the time he went missing. He was reported missing by his relatives at 8:20pm on Thursday. The search for his body started on Thursday last week by Civil Protection Department, Armed Forces and police officers.