An AFM statement said that at around 3pm, the AFM received a call to give assistance to the divers who could not make it back to shore due to very rough sea conditions.

Members of the Civil Protection Department, whose first attempt to rescue the divers failed, requested the help of a helicopter. An Alouette helicopter, piloted by Captain Paul Gauci with Bdr Saliba acting as winchman, together with Lbdr Pepe and Lbdr Gauci as rescuers, managed to winch the three divers safely to shore.

It is reported that a diver who was still on shore had tried to rescue the two other divers and having failed, fell into the sea making it difficult for him also to swim back to shore.