Body of Chinese man recovered from seabed after Comino rock collapse

Updated 7.30pm.

The body of a Chinese man who died when a natural arch collapsed on top of him in Comino on Saturday evening was recovered from the seabed on Sunday evening, some 24 hours after the tragedy.

The day-long operation was conducted by divers from the Civil Protection Department and the AFM. The 26-year-old was trapped underwater beneath large rocks which collapsed on his jetski in the freak accident.  

The debris was removed by a crane mounted on a barge before divers undertook the grim task of raising the lifeless body and handing it to the police, a spokesperson for the CPD said.

The man was driving a jetski under the arch when it collapsed at about 7pm on Saturday, shortly after a 32-year-old American tourist dived off it.

A 27-year-old Chinese woman who had also been on the jetski was hospitalised in Gozo, having suffered grievous injuries. The American bather was rescued by a passing boat but did not need to be hospitalised. 

Army divers located the body late on Sunday but could not immediately raise it to the surface because of the rocks. 

During the initial search on Saturday, police were able to use footage recorded by CCTV cameras on Noma Island to help them establish exactly what happened and how many victims were involved. Noma Island is an offshore barge used for parties and similar entertainment.

Magistrate Monica Vella is holding an inquiry. 

The arch which collapsed. Photo: Daniel Cilia