Chinese Tourist Dies After Rock Collapse Crushes Jet Ski Near Comino

A 26-year-old Chinese man has died and a 27-year-old Chinese woman was seriously injured after a large rock collapsed onto a jet ski near Comino on Saturday evening.

Police said they were called to the scene at around 7:15pm following reports that a large boulder had fallen onto people riding a jet ski close to the island.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a 32-year-old American man was preparing to jump from a natural rock arch when the formation suddenly gave way beneath him. The collapsing rock fell onto a jet ski that was passing directly underneath at the time, throwing its two occupants, a Chinese man and woman, into the sea.

According to the Armed Forces of Malta, the Rescue Coordination Centre immediately received reports of the incident and dispatched an AFM rescue vessel to the scene. The injured 27-year-old woman was evacuated to Mġarr Harbour and handed over to medical personnel before being taken to Gozo General Hospital, where she was certified as suffering from serious injuries.

The 32-year-old American, who sustained minor injuries, was rescued by a private vessel and transported to Mġarr Harbour for medical treatment. He did not require hospital admission.

A Civil Protection Department rescue vessel was also deployed to assist in the operation, while divers from the AFM's Gozo Command and 3rd Regiment launched a search for the missing 26-year-old man.

Divers later located him trapped beneath the fallen rock underwater with no signs of life. Due to the circumstances in which he was found, the recovery operation remained ongoing late into the evening.

Magistrate Dr Monica Vella LL.D has been informed of the case and has opened a magisterial inquiry, while police investigations into the incident are ongoing.

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