When Abdulrahman Abdalla Gedi had been gone for three days his cousin tried to reach him on his mobile phone, but to no avail.
"Whenever he was on fishing trips I used to call his mobile and, even if he did not answer, I would know from the ringtone whether he was close to Malta or Sicily, or still out at sea," Khadar Mohammed Khaliif said.
However, this time there was no connection at all despite Mr Khaliif's persistent attempts. He last saw his cousin just hours before he left on the fateful journey at Ħal Far's tent city, where the two lived.
The body of the 21-year-old Somali, who was working on the Simshar, was found at sea on July 19. According to Simshar's owner, Simon Bugeja - the only one found alive - the Somali was the first of the crewmen to die, followed by 33-year-old Noel Carabott and 61-year-old Carmelo Bugeja, Simon's father. Simon's 11-year-old son Theo has still not been found, although his father said he died before sunset on July 18.
Yesterday, fishermen congregated at the Mosque for the third funeral in three days.
The Somali was laid to rest at the Mosque's cemetery.
Speaking during the funeral service - attended by Acting Prime Minister Tonio Borg, Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino and MLP deputy leader Toni Abela - the Imam of the Muslim Community in Malta, Mohammed El-Sadi, said the tragedy was an example of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among people of different faiths and cultures, with the victims of the tragedy having experienced living and working together.
"This is the reality of life and death. This is the will of God and we have to trust His wisdom," he said, adding that nothing will save humans except the mercy of God.
The Imam spoke about irregular immigration, saying he recognised the Maltese people's concerns considering the country's size and its lack of resources. But he continued that "we are all refugees in the land of God", adding that God would help and provide for Malta. "God is protecting you because you are hospitable and have shown mercy."
Mr Khaliif's face was full of emotion as he helped carry his cousin's casket out of the Mosque, to be buried in the adjacent cemetery.
"He was a good man," he told The Times before the funeral, adding that Mr Gedi was hoping to leave Malta and settle in the US and maybe make enough money to visit his family, which has since returned to Somalia.
According to Emigrants' Commission director Mgr Philip Calleja, Mr Gedi left Somalia with his mother, brother and two sisters in 2002, soon after his father was shot dead by robbers who tried to break into the family home. While in Kenya, the young man married another Somali, Laila Yussuf Dubadi, in March 2006. But just months after getting married, Mr Gedi was on the run again, going through Ethiopia, Sudan and Libya before arriving in Malta last year.
Mr Gedi's friend, Mohammed Yosouf, said the 21-year-old worked in fisheries back in Somalia and had been working with Mr Bugeja for the past few months.
A telethon to raise money for the families of the Simshar's victims will be held on Family Television on Tuesday. The 12-hour marathon will kick off at noon and people can call on 5004 9870 to make a €10 donation, on 5004 9872 to make a €20 donation or call on 2166 4300 to pledge a donation.