Jacket of missing girl, 13, discovered on rocks in Ċirkewwa

Updated Tuesday 8pm

A 13-year-old Polish girl who was swept into the sea at Ċirkewwa on Monday evening remained missing despite an intensive day-long search on Tuesday.

Hopes were briefly raised early in the afternoon when her pink jacket was found, but there was no other trace of the girl by the time the search was suspended at sundown. 

The girl was standing behind railings when a large wave swept her away, rescuers said, triggering a major rescue operation.  

Rescuers told journalists the teenager's jacket had been found on rocks close to nearby Sunset Viewpoint — heading towards Paradise Bay beach — and that the girl's family had confirmed it belonged to her. 

An AFM helicopter flew over the site of the discovery with rescue efforts focusing on that area. 

The teenager, her 17-year-old brother and their father were swept towards the sea by a massive wave that washed onto the area's south quay as they walked on the pavement.

Rescuers told Times of Malta the family, who were on holiday in Malta, were at at the top of the road that leads down to the Quay shortly after 6.15pm on Monday.  

The jacket was discovered along the coast in the direction of Paradise Bay beach. Graphic: Google Maps/James Cummings.

The wave hit the father and son against a wall, and the daughter was swept into the sea. The father sustained injuries trying to grab his daughter.

When Times of Malta visited the area on Tuesday, the railing they were standing behind was broken but it is not clear if the damage was due to the wave.

On Tuesday, drones scanned the rocks nearby as boats continued to search the waters.

The girl and her family were behind this railing when they were swept to the sea by a large wave. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

"Adverse weather conditions, including rough seas and strong winds, continue to create challenging circumstances for all responders involved. Despite these difficulties, search efforts resumed this morning at first light," the AFM said in a statement. 

The Civil Protection Department said emergency responders had continuing searches on land between Monday and Tuesday.

Live camera footage from Ċirkewwa's South Quay on Tuesday morning showed emergency responders at the scene, with choppy conditions at sea and a nearby wind turbine indicating strong winds. 

Pulled into the sea

According to information given to rescuers by the rescued boy, he, his sister and father had just entered the southern quay area when a large, strong wave hit them.

All three were pulled towards the sea as they stood towards the top part of a ramp used by cars to access the area. The boy and father ended up crashing into a nearby wall, while the girl ended up in the sea.  

CPD chief assistance and rescue officer Mark Zammit told Times of Malta the father sustained injuries while trying to save his daughter. 

The father, who is 49, was treated in hospital but discharged on Tuesday morning. 

A witness described the moment they fell into the water as being "swallowed up by the rough sea".

The Polish family, who were staying in the Paradise Bay hotel, are receiving support from the Polish Embassy, Consul Jaroslaw Mikus told Times of Malta. 

"All necessary assistance and support was also provided to the family thanks to the personal involvement of the Paradise Bay Resort Management, to whom I am extremely grateful during this difficult situation," Mikus said. 

"I have also been in contact with all Maltese authorities involved in the search operation and remain in contact with them now."

The inclement weather in Ċirkewwa forced the Gozo Channel to divert its ferry operations via the Comino route on Monday. 

The sea conditions at 7.30pm at Cirkewwa. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Sea conditions complicated the search operation, with strong waves increasing the risk of the child having been pushed against the rocky coast.

Emergency responders stayed at the scene overnight. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Prime Minister Robert Abela visited the site of the search operation on Monday night.

An AFM helicopter flies low during the search for the missing girl. Photo Chris Sant Fournier.

Prime Minister Robert Abela with the rescuers on site. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Waves crash against the quayside at Ċirkewwa on Monday. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Rescuers at the scene. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli