During the course of this year, 13 individuals lost their life after having difficulties in open water and pools. Most were of foreign nationality, five were migrants who were trying to reach land, and two were young children who fell into the pools of private residences.
Excluding the case of the five migrant deaths as a result of the capsizing of their boat last February, two of the remaining eight deaths took place in Gozo - one of which happened in a private pool. Additionally, two fatalities took place in the Ċirkewwa area and three others occurred off Malta's south coast.
23 February - 5 migrants die
The first water-related fatal incident of the year occurred in February.
Five migrants died in Maltese waters during a rescue mission by the Armed Forces of Malta after their boat capsized off Malta's south coast. Twenty-nine men were rescued, eight required medical care at Mater Dei Hospital, and another five passed away.
One of the five people who lost their lives was a woman.
The migrant boat was described to be around 25 feet in length and powered by two motors to hold the 34 migrants on board. The migrants on board came from Syria, Egypt, Ghana, and Eritrea.
Following a detailed briefing given by the AFM's Deputy Commander Colonel, Edric Zahra, a representative from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informed journalists that the boat had departed from Tripoli, Libya, and had been at sea for three days.
"There were no impacts. As you know, these migrant boats are usually heavily loaded with people...the chances are that when people move from one place to another on it, then stability is lost. So, the reason as to why the boat capsized is because it became unstable," Zahra said.
The AFM's rescue operations continued throughout the day via naval and air assets in the area of the capsizing. Divers were also operating in the area to ensure that nobody else was still in distress.
The aditus foundation had expressed its deep sadness by this news of "another tragedy at sea that resulted in several people dying," as well as its disappointment regarding the treatment of this ordeal's survivors. 21 of the rescued persons were taken to the migrants' centre in Ħal-Safi.
The NGO stated that "anyone going through such a horrific experience requires immediate psychological support. The survivors came within inches of death whilst at the same time witnessing their friends and possibly loved ones drowning around them. No words can possibly describe the mental state they must be in." It also added that such care cannot be provided in detention.
1 March - Romanian senior drowns in St Peter's Pool
In the early afternoon of Friday, 1 March 2024, a 69-year-old Romanian national fell into the sea at St Peter's Pool, Delimara, Marsaxlokk. Police were contacted to assist the man at around 1.30pm.
Despite being air-lifted out of sea by members of the Armed Forces of Malta and taken to Hay Wharf, Floriana, to receive medical assistance, the man was certified dead.
26 March - 19 divers in distress, one fatality
Later in the month, a 45-year-old man died after a group of 19 divers found themselves in distress while in the waters around Ċirkewwa - near the Ċirkewwa Rozi dive site.
According to the Malta Police Force's spokesperson, the police received a distress call at 1.20pm which informed them that two groups of divers, totalling at least 10 individuals, had found themselves in difficult conditions. This number was later updated to 18 individuals by the Armed Forces of Malta and to 19 by a police spokesperson later that afternoon.
There were originally 18 divers in need of assistance; the 19th person was an instructor who jumped into the sea to aid them, before ultimately requiring rescue assistance.
From these 19 people, four managed to make their way to safety to the nearby shore, while the remaining 15 required rescuing by the Civil Protection Department and the Armed Forces of Malta.
The victim was a Dutch middle-aged national and was one of four to be taken to Mater Dei Hospital for medical treatment.
Gozo Channel ferry trips were suspended for approximately an hour as the rescue operation was taking place.
25 May - 6-year-old boy dies in hospital following pool fall
On 25 May 2024, a 6-year-old boy tragically lost his life in Mater Dei Hospital 12 days after falling into a private pool.
The Italian child reportedly suffered serious injuries after falling into a pool on 13 May and finding himself in difficulty in St Andrew's Road, Swieqi. The boy was swiftly taken to hospital, where he died 12 days later.
6 July - Two Polish divers die off Żonqor Point
Two divers died after finding themselves in difficulty on Saturday, 6 July. The two victims were Polish men, aged 45 and 48 years old.
The police said that this incident occurred while they were diving in Marsascala, some 1.4 nautical miles off Żonqor Point, at 10:30am. The men were assisted by members of the Armed Forces of Malta and were taken ashore at Haywharf Base through the AFM's MELITA 1 Search and Rescue vessel.
Both men unfortunately passed away after arriving at Mater Dei Hospital for medical care.
10 August - 3-year-old boy dies after falling into private pool
Midway through the summer period, a Maltese toddler tragically died after falling into a private pool, marking the second such tragedy involving a young child this year. This accident occurred in Kortoll Street, Xagħra, Gozo at 4.15pm.
The young boy was first given assistance by police officers and a medical team before being escorted to Gozo Hospital, where he was certified dead later that day.
20 August - 29-year-old Ukrainian national drowns near Dwejra Bay
The body of a young Ukrainian man was recovered from the sea a few hours after police received reports of the same man in difficulty. This accident happened at approximately 1.30pm at Dwejra Bay, San Lawrenz, Gozo.
According to police reports, officers went to the site where people pointed to them the zone where they had last seen the man in difficulty. Assistance from the Civil Protection Department and the Armed Forces of Malta was sought.
A body was seen at sea some three hours later. The body was then brought ashore to Mġarr harbour.
12 October - 66-year-old English senior passes after diving struggles
A 66-year-old diver from England found himself in difficulty while in Ċirkewwa. He was helped ashore by people who were with him before then being taken to hospital for care. Unfortunately, the man succumbed to his injuries later that day.