A firefighter has died after developing health issues soon after a waste fire was extinguished in Pembroke on Sunday evening.

The firefighter was later named as Joseph Zammit, aged 48, a father of two.

The police shared the tragic news in a statement on Sunday night, saying that the Civil Protection Department was summoned to an area around St Andrew’s in Pembroke at around 6pm to deal with a grass fire which ignited due to waste which was dumped in the area.

The police said that soon after the fire was controlled and extinguished, the 48-year-old firefighter developed medical problems resulting in his losing consciousness.

He was given first aid on site by other CPD members until an ambulance arrived to take him to hospital.  CPR was administered, and he was in serious condition when taken to hospital – but was pronounced dead soon after arrival.

In its own statement, the Civil Protection Department said that it was great sorrow that they could announce that the "exemplary official who has served for many years" had died.

The CPD said that this is a very hard day for the man's family and for the CPD itself, and added that it will be doing everything it can to support the victim's family.

Duty magistrate Victor Axiak is leading an inquiry while police said that their investigations are also ongoing.