Updated: Boy, 14, dies in Ghadira swimming incident

(Adds cause of death)

A 14-year-old boy from San Gwann died last night shortly after being pulled out of the sea unconscious at Ghadira Bay. The police this afternoon said an autopsy showed the boy had suffered concussion and asphyxia.

The alarm was raised at about 12.45 a.m. when a police Mobile Squad patrol at Ghadira was stopped by people calling for help.

The police found the boy motionless on the beach with some people trying to revive him. The officers also tried to help the boy while an ambulance was called, but the boy died in hospital despite intensive efforts to save him.

People on the scene said the boy had gone for a swim, jumping from a pontoon, and a short while later they noticed he was not moving.

He was quickly carried to shore but efforts to get him to breathe failed.

Magistrate Silvio Meli is holding an inquiry.