Corpse washed ashore believed to be missing tourist

The decomposed body of a man was washed ashore at it-Torri l-Abjad Bay, near Armier Bay yesterday morning and the police believe it belongs to the 41-year-old German tourist who was seen falling off the cliffs near Ta' Cenc 10 days ago.

The man, who was just dressed in a pair of jeans, was discovered at about 10.30 a.m. by the beach cleaners who immediately called the police.

An autopsy on the body is expected to be held today.

Though it was hard to identify the body, the police are suspecting it is the German man who was seen falling off the cliffs at Ta' Bardan, limits of Sannat, by two tourists on January 4.

No identification documents were found on the corpse.

The tourist, who was on a two-week holiday, had been reported missing by his friend, another German, 29.

The armed forces had mounted an intensive search but they called it off last Saturday.

It is believed that the northwest winds of the past few days must have swept the body across the channel and along the Armier shoreline.

Magistrate Michael Mallia has ordered an inquiry.