A German man has died after encountering difficulties while diving in Wied iz-Zurrieq, police said on Friday evening.

In a statement, the police said that they were informed at around 4pm that a German man had encountered difficulties while in the water at Wied iz-Zurrieq and was being assisted by members of the Red Cross Society on site.

They continued to assist the man until a medical team arrived, along with a team from the Civil Protection Department, and took the man to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance.

The man was however certified as dead soon after.

He was 66 years old.

Police investigations are ongoing, while Duty magistrate Leonard Caruana is leading an inquiry.