Watch: Parents ‘still in the dark’ on rock fall that killed daughter

The parents of Mirabelle Falzon, who died last year when she was hit by falling rocks at a popular swimming spot in Marsascala, say they are still in the dark about the exact circumstances of her death.

The accident happened on July 19, 2024, when Falzon and her friends were sunbathing in the area of Munxar, beneath the ruins of an 18th-century military battery known as Riħama.

Speaking to Times of Malta, Falzon’s parents, Michael and Charmaine, said that while they have heard from government sources that the magisterial inquiry into their daughter’s death has likely been concluded, they are none the wiser as to whether this is true. 

“It’s not right that we have been waiting for answers for so long. Over the past year and one month, we haven’t stopped turning the accident over in our minds. Every 19th of the month I go to the site and sit in silence for a few minutes, thinking about why it happened. Knowing the facts won’t bring her back, but at least we can have some closure,” her father said.

“We will carry this pain for the rest of our lives, but without knowing what happened, we can’t start healing,” her mother added.

Falzon's parents could potentially get some closure in October: a new law passed last April requires old inquiries to be wrapped up within six months, unless the courts are granted an explicit extension. That new law also empowers relatives of inquiry subjects to receive updates on the status of inquiries within that period of time. 

We will carry this pain for the rest of our lives, but without knowing what happened, we can’t start healing

The biggest source of hurt for Falzon's parents is the fact that the threat posed by the dilapidated battery had been highlighted several times by trekker and content creator Conrad Neil Gatt. One of Gatt’s videos was published just four days before the fatal accident.

“He told the authorities, ‘Mark my words, something bad is going to happen.’ Then my daughter died,” Charmaine said.

“You can’t surround every site in Malta with fencing. But when someone’s warnings fall on deaf ears and the authorities fail to act, then what happened, happened, it’s even more painful,” Michael added, with both heaping praise on Gatt for his support following the accident.

After Falzon’s death, several signs were put up warning that swimming in the area is prohibited. While a fence was erected around the battery itself, only recently – after yet another video by Gatt and a subsequent article by Times of Malta – did the Public Works Department add more fencing to stop people accessing the shore on foot.

A recent visit to Għar Lapsi, a part of which is also behind fencing due to the risk of falling rocks, inadvertently brought back the trauma for Charmaine.

“It’s all well and good that there’s fencing, but tourists and local teenagers still go under the rocks. A woman said that it looked like one of the rocks would fall soon. I couldn’t bear it and had to leave,” she said.

Recently installed fencing around the Marsascala area where Mirabelle Falzon was killed by falling rocks. Photo: Public Works Department

‘If you need anything call me’

Recounting the last time she saw Mirabelle alive, her mother said her daughter had taken a day off work and had woken up to wash the floors of their home.

“I had broken my foot and couldn’t do anything, so she cleaned the house for me. I don’t know why but she was in a very good mood that day. Then at around 1.30pm she said she was going out. Before she left she told me, ‘If you need anything, call me.’ Those were the last words I heard from her.”

Having just worked a night shift at the Freeport, Michael was in bed when he heard Mirabelle speaking to her mother and doing the housework.

“I told her to stop making a racket. I then happened to go downstairs at around 2.30pm, and received a phone call I never thought I’d have to receive.”

The call was from Mirabelle’s boyfriend, who was with her when the accident happened.

We tend to address issues after a tragedy has happened

“We carried on speaking to him on the way there, asking if she was conscious, and he said she wasn’t and that there was blood coming out of her nose.”

Mirabelle and her friends were no strangers to the place – they would go there often, first to the nearby kiosk for a bite to eat, and then to swim and sunbathe.

“It’s no surprise they used to go there – it’s a beautiful place, especially after the embellishment works. The only thing they forgot was a bit of fencing,” Michael said.

“We tend to address issues after a tragedy has happened, like with all this speeding that’s going on,” Charmaine added.

‘She brought joy wherever she went’

Mirabelle 'is still loved by everyone'.

Mirabelle’s noisiness was a core part of her character.

“She would be in the yard with her boyfriend, and I’d tell her, ‘Does everyone need to know what you’re saying?’ She was always laughing, bringing joy wherever she went. Now the house is silent without her,” Charmaine said.

On the one-year anniversary of Mirabelle’s death, her parents organised a mass in her honour.

“I can’t thank people enough for coming. The place was packed – everyone still loves her.”

Finally, Mirabelle’s father said he had just one request to the authorities.

“When someone brings something to your attention, don’t let months and years go by before action is taken. If you save just one life, it’s enough. This is a small country – things shouldn’t fall on deaf ears. No one is infallible and it’s impossible for everything to be perfect, but there are things we could be doing better.”

Questions sent to the attorney general’s office regarding the magisterial inquiry remained unanswered at the time of writing.