Boy dies after fall

@ I. Galea

I definitely want to offer my condolences to the Johansen family following the irreparable loss of their son Brian. It's a terrible loss for them and I pray God to comfort them in these tragic circumstances.

I don't intend to lecture irresponsible teenagers because it's humanly impossible to do so through this medium. My appeal is directed to the civil and competent authorities to launch a campaign to discourage youths from practising this new fad. I can't understand why you've picked Franco Farrugia's and my comments as being insensitive from among all the other comments. I was only trying to raise public opinion about a hazard commonly noticed on fine days on entering Valletta.

@ M. Attard

I'm afraid that you have completely misunderstood my comments. I never said that poor Brian wanted to impress or prove anything. It was just an accident, as you said. My remarks were directed in a general manner against this new fad that is blatantly visible to one and all. I've appealed to the competent authorities to do something positive about the matter to avoid any tragic repetition.

I have already expressed my condolences to the Johansen family.

Brian was my relative and i can assure you that he was surely not trying to impress nor prove anything to anyone. It was an accident. So please, if you can say nothing to comfort his family during this time of sorrow, just don't comment. No one would want to read such comments while mourning their son!

@ Franco Farrugia and PJ mifsud?

How can you be so insensitive? there's a time and place for everything, and now is NOT the time to give a lecture on how irresponsible teenagers are. pay your respects and offer your condolences, if you want to say something helpful.

@ Franco Farrugia

Full marks for coming up with such a wise suggestion. I cannot recall the number of times, especially during midday, that I've watched young people of both sexes sprawling lazily on the bastions. It's madness!! What are they trying to prove and who do they think they're going to impress?

I've been through my teenage years quite some time ago, but I can never recall contemporary youths indulging in such insane practices. The sooner the public authorities launch such a safety first promotion over the news media, the better. Youths must be made fully aware of such hazards before it is too late (I'm afraid it already is!)

A couple of years ago I wrote to this paper on a death near MCC on New Year's eve, arguing for a minimum height of additional railings on Valletta's bastions. A couple of weeks ago I wrote on the accident at Santa Barbara Bastions on the same thing. In both comments I cited the Times own story from a hundred years back on the same matter. Can anyone honestly say they could not see this coming? Are the law courts the only way to getting the authorities to act?

No words could ever releif pain suffered by mother and father.
But if only they know that there son has saved the lives of others, maybe one day some of the pain subsides. Throughout the week end and feasts these bastions are thronged with loungers, sometimes too merry to realise the dangers.
Is it maturity that will make an end or authorities.

Right.

Now, let's have a proper public promotion against people lying on the bastions, around Malta but especially at Mdina.

And let the competent authorities do something, however simple - there are loads that one can do - to create obstacles towards such a 'trend'.

At least, let's learn something from the fatalities of others.

My son was a friend of this young man, and yesterday he spent a day devastated after the tragic loss. I had never met my son's friend, but yesterday I was not myself as I kept putting myself in the position of the parents of this young man, as I could not imagine how I would have taken the news if it was my son that lost his life.

We must understand that the most to suffer are not those that died, but those left behind. May his parents and relatives and friends find peace , understanding and comfort in the belief that their son has gone to a better life.

How sad it to lose somebody especially at such a young age. May God give his family and friends, comfort and courage at this such a heartbreaking tragedy.

What a sad, sad loss,

may god comfort his family in these tragic circumstances.

RIP Brian

What heartbreaking news! My condolences to this boy's family and friends.