The likelihood of finding the boy Theo Bugeja is "remote", AFM Brigadier Carmel Vassallo admitted yesterday as the search for the missing boy continued by the Armed Forces of Malta and fishermen without any sign of the 11-year-old.

A search by the Partenavia plane leased by Charles Azzopardi, of Azzopardi Fisheries, was discontinued yesterday because of the wind.

Brigadier Vassallo said nothing had been found despite an extensive search over the past days. Although the army was mainly focusing on finding the boy it also kept a lookout for any wreckage of the Simshar.

"I have lost almost all hope of finding something," he said.

The tragedy took the lives of Theo's 61-year-old grandfather Carmelo, 33-year-old Noel Carabott and 21-year-old Somali national Abdulrahman Abdala Gedi.

Simon Bugeja, Theo's father, was the only survivor, found by Marsaxlokk fishermen a week after the boat disappeared off the radar.

Mr Bugeja has reportedly said his son died at sea and slipped from his arms hours later.

Fishermen, who were already strapped for cash, have forked out thousands of euros to search for their missing colleagues, who were on board the ill-fated Simshar. The fishermen did not only halt their fishing trips but used their boats in the search, running up hefty diesel bills.

According to Mr Azzopardi, fishermen have paid some €1,000 in fuel costs daily for each boat which joined the search.

"There are fishermen who can barely afford to put food on their table but still went into huge expenses to search for their friends," he said, adding that the tragedy has brought together fishermen who sometimes bicker over who had the best catch or the best boat.

Mr Azzopardi said he has known the Bugeja family for several years, having worked with Carmelo for over three decades. He said Carmelo had been going out to sea since he was a 10-year-old boy and would have been very attentive to the safety of the others.