Girl injured by falling rocks no longer in critical condition

The nine-year-old girl who was critically injured after she was hit by falling rocks when bathing in St Paul’s Bay on Monday is no longer in danger of dying, a police spokeswoman confirmed.

Speaking to MaltaToday, the police confirmed that the girl, who at the time of the incident formed part of a group of four children who had been playing in the water, has been released from the Intensive Care Unit after she took a turn for the better and improved her condition.

The girl remains at Mater Dei Hospital, where she is still receiving treatment for her injuries, the police confirmed.

The young victim is said to have suffered multiple skull fractures.

Monday’s incident happened at the area known as Tal-Veccja, shortly before midday. Eyewitnesses said parts of the cave collapsed as the girl was swimming inside it. The young victim’s grandmother was  also in the water at the time and said she found her granddaughter face-down.

Another girl who was swimming close by escaped with just scratches and was slightly injured.

“There were four children playing in the water … we suddenly heard a strange noise and, looking up, we saw the rocks slowly detaching from the wall and falling into the sea,” an elderly eyewitness said.

Witnesses who spoke to MaltaToday said residents have been complaining of the area being unsafe for years. One resident insisted that it had been an accident waiting to happen.

“Residents have been complaining about the risk of such a thing happening for years, but our complaints fell on deaf ears. It was an accident waiting to happen. If this were to happen again on a Sunday, the number of persons injured would be much higher,” the resident, who refused to be named, said.

The overlying property is understood to be owned by Labour MP Silvio Parnis.