Man lost at sea found with suspected migrants

The man reported missing after failing to return from a boat trip last Sunday was yesterday found by a fisherman drifting more than 60 miles off Malta with five men, suspected to be illegal immigrants, on board his vessel.

The police said there were three Chinese and two Libyans with Rueben Galea, 29, of Msida.

Police sources said he is believed to have been taking illegal immigrants to Sicily when his 25-foot speed boat broke down in the open sea.

Mr Galea was taken away by the police for questioning in a police mini-bus, together with his passengers, immediately after they disembarked from an AFM boat at Hay Wharf at 3 p.m.

His boat was towed in and seized by the police.

Mr Galea departed from the north of Malta on Saturday evening intending to proceed to Sicily in his craft. His family alerted the Rescue Co-ordination Centre after he failed to return home on Sunday night, as had been expected.

The weather conditions in the search area had been good with calm seas and light winds but the rescue personnel had no idea of the man's whereabouts.

The Palace Signal Tower informed the Armed Forces at 4.45 a.m. yesterday that a local fishing vessel by the name of Ave Maria had encountered a speed craft drifting 68 nautical miles south east of Delimara Point.

According to police sources, on board was just about enough water to survive the ordeal.

The AFM's Search and Rescue Unit was engaged in the rescue mission for some 30 hours. The Italian Coast Guard also offered assistance on two occasions by deploying its aircraft.