Two canoeists rescued off Filfla

Two canoeists who found themselves in difficulties while rowing off Delimara were rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta yesterday.

None of the canoeists required medical attention when they were lifted out of the water, the AFM said.

A man alerted the AFM's radar and observation post at Delimara Point at 10.30 a.m. that some canoeists required assistance. At that moment the canoeists were between the islet of Filfla and an oil rig that happened to be anchored close by.

A pleasure craft called Atlantis, which was nearby, was dispatched by the AFM to render assistance while an Air Wing Alouette rescue-helicopter was scrambled to the Atlantis's position where it had spotted an unmanned canoe.

An aerial search was initiated combined with a look-out by a patrol boat.

The helicopter spotted one of the canoeists and winched him on board. The second canoeist was sighted soon after and the patrol boat was directed to his location and plucked him to safety.