Updated: Boy, 14, dies in Ghadira swimming incident

susan galea

Aug 14th 2008, 15:01

This is a sad story and all those who loved this boy are now suffering unimaginably. It is a pity that when we hear of these misadventures or accidents that the inevitable hysterical reactions are voiced with neither rhyme nor reason. It is hilarious if it wasn't so sad that a lawyer, E.Bezzina, should jump in with both feet and supply nothing but wildly inaccurate accusations, and ludicrous suggestions in the most wildly inaccurate and ludicrous English. It is not a problem putting capital letters, when appropriate, in the middle of a sentence, Amanda Mallia should note; but not at what Dr Bezzina erroneously considers to be a proper noun. His contribution is littered with mistakes.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 13th 2008, 16:06

@ Reuben Bartolo et al: So, if that is the case, then, ... what can I say? Except: What a price that kid had to pay in order to 'have fun'. An expression which is being used in every single context.
Well, in my opinion, one should tread carefully, while having fun!

Andrea Cassar

Aug 13th 2008, 16:03

Stop blaming my friend. Did you come to the funeral too see all the people he had. He hasn't a blame. The blame is the on who made the pontoon if the water isn't deep enough why there is a pontoon or any sign? & by the way @ 14 going to 15 why can't he out @1 at night if his friend had her bday? It aint winter, it summer. This is called fun :( not blaming his parents cause of disiclipine. Miss you Friend :'(. Once we meet again

Liz Navarro

Aug 13th 2008, 14:02

Did they say anywhere that the boy's parents were not present at the time???? Why do people place these comments on unfortunate accidents like this???? Couldn't the boy be at a barbeque with his parents at 1am or family members??? Do all parents return home before midnight because they have a 14 year old with them??? Shouldn't we be saying a prayer for the boy and his family at this time as his funeral is commencing right now?? Why do people on earth try to judge instead of God??? None of us were there to judge!! And even if, who hasn't ever made a mistake before in their lives??? Condolences to the boy's family.

Diana Cassar

Aug 13th 2008, 14:01

MR Bartolo I agree totally with you. When people are young they do all kinds of things expecially for the adventure / trill part of it. I think most people have forgotten what it means being young with no sense of responability for their actions. It was an unfortuante accident. What we need to do now is to try and support the family as with all our talking we do not have support systems for people who have lost their young ones.
Well done for the first aiders who tried to help the child. Could be that they were untrained (I do not know they could have been trained!!) But the fact that they tried is more then enough. They could have managed it but God wanted an angel at his side!!!
I agree with various people who said that the general public should follow First Aid courses but come on get real. One cannot change the world and we do not live in the perfect world either

Helen McAleer

Aug 13th 2008, 13:53

I agree with Reuben. It's just a tragic accident and my condolences go to the family at this sad time.
However, all the hysteria for lifeguards etc is unfounded. On my recent visit to Malta the scariest and deadliest thing in Malta to me is the act of crossing the road especially on a pedestrian crossing.

victor vella

Aug 13th 2008, 13:40

Whilst I don't know what exactly happened all I say is this, haven't you all ever had a barbeque on the beach with family /relatives or friends, haven't we all been carefree youths in our time, don't we all have an incident to talk about, a rough joke we played on others , a dare we did, cause I tell you one thing if any of you says that you have always obeyed your parents, always been extremely good and never in your life did anything which was dangerous all I would say is get a flippin life. As for you Dr Bezzina Leader and originator of Alfa , Knight in shining armour, Maybe as a prime minister you would solve all of Malta's problems and remove the jelly fish from our seas, teach the idiots who litter our beaches and make efficient that which is not.

R. Bartolo

Aug 13th 2008, 12:19

oh god the hysteria.
Growing up, my friends and I used to swim all the time at night.
It's called fun. It's normal.
We used to go to barbeques with friends, and swim afterwards.
Have you never left your house without wearing helmets? Is it so strange for you?
It is unfortunate tthis boy died, but that does not mean that what he was doing was wrong, or that he has bad parents, or that there should be lifeguards or police stopping you from swimming.
And Emmy Bezzina with all the alphabets that follow your name, inform yourself before speaking out about organizations. Also, it is only an urban legend that you cannot swim after eating. In fact I would encourage everyone here to get out more and enjoy life more.

Robert L. Mifsud

Aug 13th 2008, 11:45

Firstly my condolences to the boy's family. From what I read the blame for this tragic accident lies squarely with whoever erected the pontoon off which the boy dived. If the depth was not suitable for diving, sign posts should have been clearly set up to this effect. And this goes for all other swimming areas where it is not safe to dive.

Michael Andrews

Aug 13th 2008, 11:04

As most people here have commented about why this lad was out at 1 in the morning at the beach......... well..... kids will be kids and except for following them around all night ..... they will do and go as they please.
Saying that however i do agree that these days there is a severe lack of discipline when it come to kids/teenagers.
They literally get away with what they want these days coz parents are too soft with them.
You don't have to shout with them or beat them but install some discipline and when you say they have to be in by 11pm,then make sure they are in by 11pm.
What happened here i feel was a tragic accident and would have happened anytime of the day .It seems the water level was too low and the boy just did not realise.
My condolences to all his family and friends at this terrible time they are going through.

Nigel Lawrence

Aug 13th 2008, 10:10

Will all these people who are calling for 24/7 lifeguards, get real. There is no beach in the world that supports this service.

Midnight dippers do so at their own risk.

J. Buhagiar

Aug 13th 2008, 08:52

@ Philip Bonello.

I agree with you said 100%.

However my conclusion is that parents need to have a more responsible approach.

What has this got to do with the authorities?

Reuben griscti

Aug 13th 2008, 08:51

Having read all the comments, I feel I must intervene so as not to allow the misinformed to misinform others.
First of all, Franco Farrugia: as I said in my previous comment, there is a lot that can be done to try and save a drowning victim's life. It is one of the few scenarios in which we would tend to perform life support longer than 'normal'. So, contrary to what you said, had a life guard been present there would have been a lot one could do until an ambulance +/- Emergency Response Team (ERT) doctor arrived on scene. If the onlookers were performing adequate Basic Life Support, then I would like to commend them for their efforts, unlike E.BEZZINA (lawyer, not doctor). As for your comments regarding St. John's ambulance's funding: it seems others like Mrs. Siroll have already responded quite aptly. Now how about you do the honourable thing, MR BEZZINA and apologize to all for your unkind words towards the few who tried to save the boy's life and the inappropriate, misinformed comments made about St.John's Ambulance??

Philip Bonello

Aug 13th 2008, 08:30

This may sound cruel especially to the bereaved but for the third time running in just about as many weeks parental supervision proved not to be enough to prevent injury to a child. First we had an eleven year old on a working/fishing boat. The child should not have been there and the boat was not equiped to cater for a child passenger. Then there was a three year old taken on a ride in a truch which overturned in Mgarr. Children should never be allowed to ride up front (there was no back seat anyway) and the truck was not built to cater for a child passenger even if he were older. And now we have a child left to swim on his own, up to his own devises who suffered concussion and drowned. I wonder when the authorities will take action.

ANTON VELLA

Aug 13th 2008, 08:12

this unfortunate incident alerts everybody to keep on insisting re establishing a proper well- organised and efficient life guards organisation on our beaches. I know that a few exists, but I think that we need something more elaborated, functionable, organised , well paid, dedicated, and professional. Let's go for it, and join forces to create such an organisation.

anton vella

Roderick Chetcuti

Aug 13th 2008, 07:08

what was a 14yr old kid doing at nearly 1am in the morning? And dear Dr.Bezzina, do u mind if u spare us your eccentric comments pls.

Denis Catania

Aug 13th 2008, 03:06

If funding is not available for lifeguards. Than we should put a tax, something to fund this. I believe a 1Euro on incoming flights. If this is not acceptable. Than we should take a 1 or 2 per cent from the VAT on waterfront businesses, such as gift stores, restaurants, hotels and so on. Than the VAT department will be funding this with part of the VAT they spent in conjunction to swimming and water recreations.It should also be illegal for minors to swim after dark without a parent. Although it to late for this young gentleman, let's protect our kid's in the future.

Jason Azzopardi

Aug 13th 2008, 02:09

May he rest in peace. What else can one say in these kind of situations. May god be with his parents and family/ Amen

jeff attard

Aug 13th 2008, 01:00

as usually, emmy bezzina saves the day.

mario mifsud

Aug 13th 2008, 00:35

@Emy Bezzina
at 12.45 am don't expect life guards on duty unless they you wish to do this work voluntarily yourself !

Maria Gauci

Aug 12th 2008, 23:48

Dr Bezzina, where did you get the information on how and by whom the St John Ambulance are being subsidized?

Interesting to know!!!

J Camilleri

Aug 12th 2008, 23:41

I urge you, please, to keep in mind the parents of this young teenager - I am more than sure that they're heart broken. This young boy I happen to know very closely, considering he is a direct relative of mine.

Many are tempted to ask many a question as to why a boy aged 14 was at Ghadira at that time. We all know that many teenagers are hard-headed, full of life but with no care for it at the same time, prone to take senseless risks without calculating pros and cons, often chosing the wrong thing to do without thinking so much about it. We all have been teenagers and I'm sure many of us have had our share of wanting to spend time with relatives and friends, even having a night barbecue on the beach.

How very sad to state that life, sometimes, seems to hang onto a mere thread. I have no doubt that all efforts have been made to save this poor lad's life and one has to keep in mind the shock, distress, panic and sheer helplessness one feels in such situations, Being polemical now will not resolve the matter, alas!

manuel Grima

Aug 12th 2008, 23:39

GOD HELPS HIS FAMILY .

Joseph Calleja

Aug 12th 2008, 23:13

My deepest sympathy to all his survivors. For me this incident is yet another one, means our inability to impose curfews on youths. Irrespective of summer or weekends, we have teenagers who are still out on the strrets in specific ares of entertainment till late night - or more accurately early morning. We have teens trying to act like adults when they lack the brains and emotional intelligence to do so. On the other hand we have adults who lack enough brain matter and guts to refuse such clientele after specific hours.
Who will ever address this issue which is multifacetet is a another question that could be asked: but gosh it is high time.

Philip Paris

Aug 12th 2008, 22:57

First, my prayer with the family at this time.

Second, 12:45 am!
What is a 14 year old boy doing out at this time? The parents or guardians should be responsible for knowing where your child is at that time.
Unbelievable.

Amanda Mallia

Aug 12th 2008, 22:50

Emy Bezzina - It was at 12.45am, not 12.45pm. Lifeguards need not normally be available throughout the night. It was an unfortunate accident, yes, and a very sad one at that, but you can't blame everything - including this case - on the powers-that-be (nor, incidentally, on voluntary organisations).

As an aside, I fail to see how somebody with a whole string of qualifications after his name insists on putting Capital Letters in the Middle of a Sentence. :)

jeremy J Camilleri

Aug 12th 2008, 22:39

Live guards at 12 45 am??

Are you folks serious!?

as for Emmy..well..I take alot of your comments seriously...but well..You should have done some research before your recent claims regarding ST Jhons ambulance!

Michael Gafa

Aug 12th 2008, 22:34

condolences to the family of this poor boy whose life ended....as many asked what was this boy doing at such time of the night without any adult supervision? and to Dr. Bezzina....the less you speak or write the better...as there is less possibility of us public reading crap!

Lt the Chev Albert Falzon MDA MLJ

Aug 12th 2008, 22:33

I have to agree with Gemma. i belong to a different voluntary NGO, and we also dont get any funds from the goverment. locally only red croos gets funds from goverment and from eu. we do this on voluntary basis, and we dont gain any money but we spend, as we need to eat, drink and use cars to attend for the duty, and fuel cost.
dr. bezzina, if a life gaurd was present for sure he/she would done all the possible to save this life, but at 01:00 am, dont you think lifeguards will be asleep. shall we do as they do in the USA, LIFE GUARDS AT 24/7 AND GET WELL PAID. wont be that bad.

I. laferla

Aug 12th 2008, 21:59

To: Dr E Bezzina..... give us a break....life guards at 12:15 am!!!! Think before you open your mouth!

Gemma Sirol - Commissioner St. John Ambulance

Aug 12th 2008, 21:13

May I answer Dr Emy Bezzina on his comment.
First of all my deepest sympathy to the family of this young boy. It is a tragedy and no matter how much we write about all this, nothing will get back this boy to his family! We cannot imagine what they are going through and we can only promise our prayers.
Secondly, I would like to point out that St John Ambulance is made up totally of volunteers who, instead of relaxing with their family and friends, decide to dedicate their free time in giving first aid service to the people of Malta and Gozo. We do not have any income whatsoever from anyone! We buy our own ambulances, fuel, equipment and spend most of our own money in buying what is needed to give this service. Most of our volunteers take days off work to be able to dedicate their time in this cause. WE DO NOT GET ANY MONEY FROM ANYONE. I thank all our volunteers for their dedication and would like to suggest that everyone attends a first aid course and should know what to do in case of emergency.

Julie Peace

Aug 12th 2008, 19:10

Dr Bezzina "...instead of screeming panickers able to do nothing right!" Not a nice way to portray the poor people who tried to save this boys life......some comments made on articles and letters never cease to amaze me.

V Farrugia

Aug 12th 2008, 17:54

I know where the pontoon is, it is a rather long, plastic pontoon, situated on the 3rd sandy beach, the one nearest to the Tower. Unfortunately this pontoon ends where the water is barely a meter deep, if the boy wasn't familiar with the area he would have assumed (wrongly) that the pontoon was situated in water deep enough to dive in. My suggestion: can this pontoon either be extended to where the water is deep enough to dive in, or else dismantled at night? The pontoon is nothing more than a series of rectangular plastic floats, it can be rolled up very easily at night.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 12th 2008, 17:49

Words are not enough to express the deep sadness when I read such news as this! At such a tender age. However, a few practical points:
1. A 14-yr old should never have been away from home at that time of night. And especially, NOT at the seaside. Il-bahar rasu ratba imma .....
2. No life-guard would have been able to do anything to the young victim in that situation.
3. No life-guard would be able to operate at such a time in the night. At night, you swim at your own risk, full-stop!
4. Ghadira would need to have a dozen lifeguards, not just one!
5. May I suggest First-Aid courses ON THE SPOT at Ghadira itself, to get more members of the public to attend!

Victor Dimech

Aug 12th 2008, 17:33

Lifeguards at 1.00 am at ghadira while Dr Bezzina is fast asleep?

Dr.Emmy Bezzina, LL.D.,B.A.,Dip.S.Th.

Aug 12th 2008, 16:35

Are we not supposed to have Life Guards on our more important and accessible Public Beaches ?Why do we have Civil Protection Organizations like the St.John Ambulance WHO ARE GENEROULSY SUBSIDIZED not available in instances like this? From the account as reported,it appears that the boy might have had his life saved if the right persons were round,instead of screeming panickers able to do nothing right! While our condolonces go to the Family of this young man from San Gwann, it is well to be aware of whether his Family were in the vicinity or aware of where the young man would be. When was the last time that contact was made between the deceased and anyone that could shed light whether or not this sad event could have been avoided.Do we educated our young well enough as when they ought not to swim,say immediately after a lunch? Are there any records of whether the victim was physically in a healthy state to swim? Let us not let these questions and many others go past us: I am sure Magistrate Silvio Meli, LL.D. will see to it that these Questions are adequately addressed in eyeryone`s interests.

Denis Catania

Aug 12th 2008, 15:08

My sympathy goes with the family of that child.
Although this particular incident lifeguards would not have been on duty. Lifeguards should be a must. Malta work on funding to do this. This should be a top prioroty. The Maltese and tourists alike deserve this. We have ambulances at football games.To protect a player, but Malta's # 1 sport and recreation, doesn't have the safety it deserves.

Joanne Micallef

Aug 12th 2008, 14:44

Did the accident happen at 00:45am or 12:45pm? As if it happened in the early hours of the morning surely no one can expect to have a lifeguard on site.

Mark Schembri

Aug 12th 2008, 14:40

The person mentioned in this article is a relative of mine and having lost family members myself can only imagine what they must be going through, especially for someone so young. Even though I reside overseas I was deeply saddened to hear of the news. I pray for the family and friends of the boy that God may comfort them.
Working as a pool lifeguard myself, I encourage everyone to enroll in a first aid course and learn CPR. It's an asset for life and you won't know when it will come into use. The very person you may save could very well be a family member. I know for a fact that the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia is very proactive in teaching people of all ages the importance of being "water aware" and would imagine that the Red Cross and St Johns Ambulance in Malta would be the same.

Reuben griscti

Aug 12th 2008, 11:06

first of all, deepest condolences to the family as I'm sure this will be a very difficult time for all of them. With regards to the Life guard comments: St.John's ambulance and Red Cross corps are engaged as VOLUNTARY life guards on weekends on some of the busiest beaches. Unfortunately, not all beaches are manned by these dedicated people because there aren't enough!!! I do agree that, with tourism being one of our major industries, the government should invest in having lifeguards on all our beaches!! Contrary to what someone said about first aid not being as useful in such a case, I can assure you you are wrong: drowning IS one of the few indications for prolonged CPR, and therefore starting CPR on site as the individuals mentioned in the article did may increase a casualty's chances if survival. So I would encourage all to attend a first aid course (St.john's ambulance and Red cross both offer such courses) as it could be a loved one's life you save!!! Plus there is nothing that gives greater satisfaction than saving a stranger's life!!!
Finally I would like to, once agaiN, offer my deepest condolences to the family.

J. Tonna

Aug 12th 2008, 10:49

The easiest way to criticise is to ask a thousand questions, even were criticism is not required as in this case.

victor vella

Aug 12th 2008, 10:36

May thegood Lord grant him the kingdomof heaven, and his family his undying love to deal withthis tragedy. Canwe stopaskinf silly questions at a time like this, do you have blood running in your viens or iced tea?And can some ofus critisies the authorities on a number of valid things rather then asking stupid questions regarding life guards.

marica agius

Aug 12th 2008, 10:17

We unite ourselves in prayer for the boy's family. May God grant them strength in this difficult time.

Matthew Dougall

Aug 12th 2008, 10:09

@ Chris rizzo: lifeguards at 1 am? and i don't know how this happened because the sea is not deep at all!

C. Azzopardi

Aug 12th 2008, 09:59

My heart goes out to the parents and family of this poor boy. This is an unfortunate incident which no parent or otherwise wishes to go through. I would like to remind people though of the importance of learning first aid. It might not have helped in this case however a knowledge of first aid might be beneficial in other situations. The course is short but the benefits are endless.

CHRIS RIZZO

Aug 12th 2008, 09:57

are there trained lifeguards on our beaches?

Robert Cassar

Aug 12th 2008, 09:52

The government should enforce that all establishments selling items on the beach must have at least 1 person employed as bay watch. It’s a very sad accident.

HADRIAN AGIUS

Aug 12th 2008, 09:51

WHAT WAS A 14 YEAR OLD BOY DOING AT GHADIRA AT 00.45HRS????????

Joe Spiteri

Aug 12th 2008, 08:59

a very unfortunate accident!! Glad to hear that bystanders started cpr until professional help arrived on scene.
god helps his family.