Boat capsizes, throwing eight into the water

Four adults and four children ended up in the sea when their boat capsized off Comino yesterday, but they were promptly rescued by a Civil Protection Department launch which was on patrol in the area.

The incident happened at around 2.30 p.m. near the Blue Lagoon.

The eight people, forming two families, were in a 13-foot Bahri fibreglass boat which capsized without warning, apparently because of turbulence in the wake created by a larger vessel.

The boat is owned by Charlo Farrugia from Pietà, who was on board the vessel.

The Civil Protection Department's mv Garibaldi happened to be on patrol just as the accident happened, and the eight were picked up within minutes, a department official said.

The small pleasure boat itself took in water but was floating just below the surface and was also recovered by the Garibaldi. Its former occupants were landed at Cirkewwa, where they later collected the boat, gruffly refusing to talk to reporters.