Tourists die while diving in Gozo

A British tourist and his son died in a tragic accident while diving in Gozo, yesterday morning.

John Avent, 58, and his son Rhydian, 16, were scuba diving in the limits of Xwejni, near Marsalforn, together with a small group of relatives and friends when they suddenly found themselves in difficulty.

The two were given assistance by people nearby but this proved futile as Mr Avent and his son died on the spot. Sources close to the police said the two men had only been in the water for five minutes when something went wrong.

Other divers in the area told the police that at one moment the two divers were seen clutching each other and going down. Other divers then pulled both of them out of the water.

The sources added that diving in the same group was Mrs Avent.

Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona appointed a team of court experts to help in the inquiry.

A post mortem will be held today.

The police are investigating.