Italian man who drowned in Comino named as Salvatore Palmentieri
Naples man described as a hard worker with a heart of gold
The Italian man who drowned at Comino’s Blue Lagoon this week has been named as Salvatore Palmentieri.
Palmentieri, a 35-year-old who lived in the Secondigliano suburb of Naples, was named as the victim in multiple reports published by Italian media outlets.
In a social media post published by InterNapoli.it, residents of Secondigliano described him as a hard worker with a “heart of gold” who was holidaying in Malta.
“You broke my heart by darling cousin… we can’t accept this,” a cousin of his wrote. “We spoke on the phone on Monday and you told me you would help me. You helped everyone.”
She added “now you will be with our grandfather and grandmother.”
Palmentieri drowned on Wednesday afternoon when he found himself in trouble while swimming at Comino’s Blue Lagoon.
He was lifted onto a boat and given first aid by members of the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps (ERRC) before being rushed to Gozo General Hospital, where he was certified dead.
A magistrate is leading an inquiry into the case.
On Thursday, lifeguards and enforcement officials in Comino subsequently held a moment of silence to pay tribute to the victim's memory.
"Shoulder to shoulder, members of the Malta Police Force, the Malta Tourism Authority, Transport Malta, and our lifeguards came together to honour his memory and to acknowledge the courage, bravery, and dedication of all those who work tirelessly on Comino.
"In moments of crisis, their professionalism and unwavering commitment shine through — reminding us that behind every rescue, every patrol, and every act of vigilance are people who face danger head-on to keep others safe.
"Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of the man who lost his life," the ERRC wrote.