The deep hole in Pembroke that almost claimed the life of a Sliema man and his dog has been covered. The Malta Independent visited the site yesterday and found that the underground water channel has been covered with a number of concrete slabs, which were cemented together, and large boulders were placed on top.

Natale Fenech, 66, from Sliema, spent a total of 22 hours in the hole after falling down the shaft on 1 November. He had been trying to save his dog, which had also fallen down while chasing a rat. Mr Fenech spent the whole night clinging to a ledge and holding his dog in the dark, water-filled cave. He was rescued the next day after passers-by were alerted by his second dog, who stood guard, barking near the entrance to the hole. The man was treated for hypothermia but was discharged a day later.

Photograph: Jonathan Borg