A man was charged in court yesterday with seriously injuring a German tourist who was hit with a speedboat while he was swimming in St George’s Bay.

Lawrence Micallef, 44, from Vittoriosa, who works part-time with a water sports company, was charged with seriously injuring Christian Hubert Leiner last Saturday.

Before magistrate Lawrence Quintano, Mr Micallef pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

The court also heard Mr Leiner testify that this is the third time he had come to Malta on holiday, and last Saturday morning he had been swimming in St George’s Bay when he was suddenly hit by a speedboat being driven by the accused.

He explained that the propeller had caught his arm and damaged his artery in two places. He said he had lost a considerable amount of blood and had had to spend two days in hospital.

Mr Leiner said that as a result of the incident, the nervous system in his arm had been damaged and he could not move two fingers of his right hand.

The court granted Mr Micallef bail against a personal guarantee of Lm1,000.

Police Inspector Martin Sammut prosecuted while Dr Edward Gatt appeared for the accused.