Man who died in Ħondoq Bay drowning incident was Maltese-Australian on holiday
The man was pulled ashore by other swimmers on Monday evening
A man who died after getting into difficulties at Ħondoq Bay in Gozo was a Maltese-Australian returning to the country on holiday.
Salvu Vella, 73, was pulled from the water by other swimmers after the alarm was raised at 6.30pm on Monday.
Police described the man as a resident of Qala, but Times of Malta is informed he was Maltese-Australian and living in Melbourne but visiting Gozo on holiday.
He was given first aid on shore and a defibrillator was used before he was taken to Gozo General Hospital in an ambulance. However he died shortly after, police said on Tuesday.
Magistrate Simone Grech opened a magisterial inquiry, as police investigations continue.
It is the third drowning at sea in the space of one month. A 25-year-old Nepalese man died while swimming at Exiles, Sliema on July 8 and 67-year-old from Munxar was found unconscious in the sea at Xlendi Bay in Gozo hours later.
Ten people are known to have died by drowning this year. According to police figures, 14 people died in drowning incidents in 2024.