A 29-year-old man is in a critical condition following an accident at sea yesterday evening.

The incident took place at about 6pm, around 500 metres off the coast of Pembroke.

Preliminary investigations found that three men were sailing towards Msida when their boat developed a mechanical fault which caused the vessel to circle at a high speed.

The 29-year-old, who lives in Sliema, was injured when he was allegedly slammed from side to side.

A search and rescue team was dispatched by the Armed Forces of Malta and an ambulance conveyed the patient from Haywharf, Floriana to Mater Dei Hospital.

The man was subsequently found to be in a critical condition.

The other two men on the boat were the patient's brother, a 23-year-old who lives in Sliema and a 22-year-old who lives in Iklin. Both were unhurt in the incident.

Investigations are on-going.