Updated 12.25pm

An elderly man who was reported missing was found dead off Għadira Bay on Tuesday morning. 

The 72-year-old Mellieħa resident went to sea on a small dinghy at Għajn Zejtuna to board a bigger boat anchored in the bay but did not appear to have made it, sources said.

The alarm was raised by family members after he failed to return home.

An army helicopter, police and Civil Protection personnel were deployed around the bay to search for him.

His empty dinghy was found adrift and the victim was spotted in the water shortly after.

A Red Cross rescuer attempted to administer CPR but the man had died.  

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