Eritrean dies in attempt to save swimmers from drowning in Paradise Bay

The Eritrean - a cleaner at Paradise Bay Hotel - jumped into the rough sea as he noticed the two French youths as they struggled against the waves.

As the Eritrean tried to get the two students to safety, he also found himself in difficulty as the waves pounded him against the rocks.

An Armed Forces helicopter and a patrol boat were deployed to the area and a rescue team managed to pull the French youths out of the water, while the Eritrean was lifted onto the helicopter and immediately taken to Mater Dei Hospital where he was certified dead on arrival.

At 5:35pm, the Paradise Bay Hotel's manager informed the Armed Forces of Malta's Rescue Co-ordination Centre that two swimmers were being observed in obvious difficulty in front of the jetty located nearby.

An AFM Air Wing Alouette rescue-helicopter and the Gozo-based patrol boat were immediately dispatched to the location to assist the two men in difficulty. An ambulance was also positioned on site to provide emergency trauma treatment.

By 6pm, the AFM's rescue-swimmers had located one of the swimmers in difficulty, who was found face downwards in the water. He was immediately winch-hoisted aboard the Alouette helicopter and conveyed to Mater Dei Hospital, where all attempts were made to save his life.

The other male swimmer, a 20-year-old French national, was afterwards also found after an intensive search some 50 minutes later by the Maritime Squadron's patrol boat, rescued, conveyed to land to the awaiting ambulance ,and taken to hospital whilst suffering from severe fatigue. Another 23-year-old Frenchman was also taken by another ambulance, suffering from abrasions.

The Armed Forces said that with the weather blowing a Northwesterly force 6 to 7 wind, inducing a moderate to rough sea, other persons were reported in difficulty much earlier in the afternoon off the coast of Bugibba. Two women onboard air-mattresses were reported to Police headquarters in difficulty whilst out in the water off the Bogner complex.

As AFM surface and air assets were mobilised to the spot, police land units reached the location first and found that the local beach cleaner, Mario Grima, had come to the ladies' assistance already. Grima claimed that they hadn't been the first people to find themselves in similar difficulties that day, the AFM said.