A body was found at around 11am on Wednesday in the limits of Ċirkewwa during an ongoing search for a 13-year-old Polish girl who had been swept into the sea on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the body was that of the missing girl.
The search operation, which resumed this morning, was coordinated by the police and involved the Department of Civil Protection and the Armed Forces of Malta, with assistance from Mater Dei Hospital and the Victim Support Unit.
According to information gathered by the Civil Protection Department, and following police authorisation, a statement was taken from the girl’s brother. He said that he, his sister and their father were standing behind road barricades and not close to the sea when a powerful wave — described as “the biggest wave he has ever seen” — swept the girl down a ramp and into the water.
Earlier in the afternoon, the girl’s jacket was recovered from the sea. The family, who are Polish nationals, were on holiday in Malta and staying at a hotel in Ċirkewwa. A medical team speaking to TVM News said the girl had wanted to visit Malta to see the sea.
In a statement, the Armed Forces of Malta warned that turbulent seas and strong winds are expected to persist throughout the week. RCC Malta appealed to the public to stay away from exposed coastal areas and avoid coastal ramps.
