A 55-year-old Swiss man lost his life on Sunday after falling from a height while rock climbing along the cliffs in the area of Wied Fulija, Żurrieq, the police said in a statement.

The police said that at around 2.45pm, they were informed that two people, a man and a woman, required assistance after falling from a height and could not be located.

Shortly afterwards, the two were located with the assistance of the Armed Forces of Malta and members of the Civil Protection Department.

The man was found unconscious and suffering from several injuries, while the woman was conscious but also injured.

Both were brought ashore by dinghy to the Delimara quay, where a medical team was waiting.

The man was certified dead at the scene, while the 48-year-old woman was taken by ambulance to Mater Dei Hospital, where she was certified as having sustained slight injuries.

Magistrate Renata Farrugia appointed an inquiry, while police investigations are ongoing.