In 2025, 11 of the 17 water-related fatalities in the country occurred in Gozo and Comino, the majority of whom died from drowning at sea.

Fourteen people died at sea across Malta, Gozo and Comino, two in private swimming pools and one in a jacuzzi, while the year also saw the tragic deaths of three children.

Seven fatalities were recorded in Gozo, and four in Comino.

Several incidents occurred in locations popular with tourists and locals alike.

Seven of the victims were persons of foreign nationality. All the victims, except for one, were men.

28 February - Man dies in jacuzzi accident

The first water-related fatality of the year occurred in the morning of 28 February in Viani Street, Sliema.

A 22-year-old man from Norway died after finding himself in difficulty while using a jacuzzi. A medical team had found him unconscious, and he was certified dead on site.

15 April - Elderly man dies while swimming in St Julian's

A 76-year-old man from Ireland died after finding himself in difficulty while swimming near the Cavalieri Hotel, in the Qaliet area, known as Xatt is-Sajjieda, St Julian's.

Police were called to the area at around 12.45pm, where the Civil Protection Department and Armed Forces of Malta personnel were then called to the site to recover the body.

22 April - Fisherman found dead off Comino

A 71-year-old fisherman from Xewkija, who had been seen fishing some time before, was found dead near the small island of Comino.

Police were informed at 12.45pm of a body floating face down in the water. They sought assistance from the AFM to lift the body out of the water, from where it was taken to Mgarr Harbour.

5 June - Firefighter dies after drowning in Gozo

At around 3pm on 5 June, police were informed of a request for assistance around Ras ir-Reqqa in the limits of Żebbuġ in Gozo.

A 34-year-old man from Għajnsielem found himself in difficulty while swimming, and people who were close by gave the man first aid and brought him ashore.

The victim was later identified as Manuel Curmi, who had just become a firefighter, joining the Civil Protection Department in February of this year. 

A medical team came on site and the man was rushed to Gozo General Hospital, but he was certified dead soon afterwards.

22 June - Six-year-old boy drowns in Naxxar pool

Six-year-old Zaylen Borg was found unconscious in a swimming pool after he had wandered away from his family, in Triq San Gwann, Naxxar.

Police were called to assist a family in fields they own in the area, who had realised that the child had started walking around and disappeared.

Several police units were notified and began searching the area. After some time, with the use of a police drone, the boy was spotted unconscious in the swimming pool of another residence.

He was given first aid by police officers, with a medical team assisting shortly afterward. The boy was taken by ambulance to Mater Dei Hospital, but unfortunately, he later lost his life.

A new inclusive and accessible sensory park has since opened in Paola in honour of the boy, named, Ġnien Zaylen.

1 July - Diver who had been rescued dies in hospital

A 59-year-old diver from Iklin who was rescued after finding himself in difficulty in Cirkewwa on Sunday, 29 June, died in hospital the following Tuesday.

The man was identified as Dione Galdes from the Calypso Sub-Aqua Club, who was described as not only a skilled diving instructor, but also a trusted mentor, a generous advisor, and a true companion to all who had known him.

1 July - Man dies while swimming at Ghadira Bay

A 55-year-old man from Mellieha died while he was swimming at Ghadira Bay in Mellieha on Tuesday, 1 July, in the afternoon.

The man was helped ashore by other bathers before being assisted by a medical team after he found himself in difficulty while swimming at 6.30pm.

He was taken to hospital where he died some time later, the police said the following day.

8 July - 25-year-old man dies in Sliema

A 25-year-old man from Nepal, residing in Qormi, found himself in difficulty while swimming in Exiles, Sliema at 1am.

The man was swimming with some friends who were the first to raise the alarm, helping the man ashore and seeking medical assistance; however, he was certified dead in hospital.

8 July - 67-year-old man dies in Xlendi

On the same day at 7.15am, police assistance was sought when a man was seen unconscious in the sea at Xlendi.

The man, 67, from Munxar, was taken ashore and a medical team certified him dead on site.

21 July - Man dies while swimming in Hondoq

A 73-year-old man from Qala died on Monday, 21 July afternoon after he found himself in difficulty while swimming at Hondoq.

The police said the man was given first assistance by other swimmers who helped him ashore. He was taken to Gozo Hospital where he was certified dead.

The man was later named as Salvu Vella, a Maltese-Australian.

26 July - 16-month-old who fell in private pool dies in hospital

Sixteen-month-old Noah Mizzi died on Saturday, 26 July, after he had fallen into a pool in a private residence in Xaghra, Gozo, the previous Monday.

The accident took place at 7.30pm in a residence in Gnien Imrik Street. A medical team gave medical assistance to the unconscious boy and took him to Gozo Hospital, from where he was transported by helicopter to Mater Dei Hospital.

His father Simon Mizzi announced his death in a post on the social media, along with a photo of the boy, and the police also issued a statement that the boy had unfortunately lost his life.

13 August - Man drowns at Blue Lagoon

A 35-year-old Italian man died after finding himself in difficulty while swimming at the Blue Lagoon in Comino.

Police were informed at 1.30pm of the incident. On site, the man was given first aid by lifeguards from the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps (ERRC), and he was taken to the Mġarr Harbour from where he was transported to the Gozo General Hospital by ambulance.

Unfortunately, he was certified dead a short while later, the police said.

16 September - Man dies at Blue Lagoon

A 43-year-old man from England died after finding himself in difficulty at around 1pm in the waters at Blue Lagoon in Comino.

The police said that the man had gone down a slide from a catamaran into the sea and found himself in difficulty straight after. He was given medical care by ERRC and taken to the Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, where he was then transferred to Gozo General Hospital. He was certified dead soon after his arrival at hospital.

29 September - Woman dies while diving in Dwejra

A 54-year-old woman died while diving at Dwejra, Gozo. Police were informed that a person was in difficulty at around 12.30pm.

The woman was helped ashore by people in the vicinity, and a medical team certified her dead on site.

8 October - Polish man dies while swimming at Ramla l-Hamra

A 43-year-old Polish man died after finding himself in difficulty while swimming at Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo at around 1.30pm on Wednesday, 8 October.

The man was given first assistance by lifeguards from the ERRC and a medical team from Gozo General hospital, but he was certified dead some time later.

27 October - Child dies at Ramla l-Hamra

Police were informed at 1.15pm that their assistance was needed at Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo, where an 11-year-old boy and a 37-year-old man, both from England, found themselves in difficulty while swimming.

Along with the police, the AFM and the CPD joined the search with the use of a dinghy and a helicopter.

The child was located and brought to shore. He was taken to hospital where he was certified dead some time later. At that point, the search for the man was still on.

29 October - Man missing at sea found dead

Two days later, the AFM found the body of the man who went missing at sea on 27 October at Ramla l-Hamra.

The victims were later identified as father and son Mohammed Qadoos and Ayan. The search for the missing adult continued on Tuesday and Wednesday, and he was found dead early Wednesday morning.