Elderly woman found dead in well

A 65-year-old woman died in tragic circumstances yesterday after seemingly falling into a well at her home in Żurrieq.

Police said her son made the gruesome discovery after going to his mother's home in Triq is-Sajjieda just after 11 a.m.

He found that the wooden plank leading to the wellhead was broken and saw his mother's lifeless body immersed in the water.

The police were immediately called in, and they established that there were no signs of violence, break-in or suspicion of theft. It is thought that the woman drowned accidentally. However, in the coming days an autopsy will be carried out to establish the precise cause of death. Investigations will also establish how long she had been in the water. Court Magistrate Audrey Demicoli was informed of the case.

There have been five accidents involving falls so far this month. A three-year-old boy died last Wednesday after falling into a shaft in Żebbuġ, and in another incident a 49-year-old man was injured after falling less than storey into an empty well in an area known as Tat-Tomna, Mellieħa.