Boy dies after fall
Brian Johansen, 16, from San Ġwann died after he fell off the bastions in Herbert Ganado Garden, Floriana, on Saturday evening.
The teenager was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital where he died later in the evening.
The police said investigations revealed that the teenager was sitting on the bastion with some friends and slipped when he stood up, falling a height of about five storeys.
Civil Protection Department personnel were called in to help because the teenager landed in an area that is difficult to reach. The teenager was given first aid on the spot before he was taken to intensive care in hospital, where efforts to save his life proved futile.
Magistrate Giovanni Grixti appointed a team of court experts, including architect Richard Aquilina, to help in an inquiry.
The police are investigating.
11 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
PJ Mifsud
Oct 8th 2008, 16:24
@ 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.
M Attard
Oct 8th 2008, 09:23
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!
I. Galea
Oct 7th 2008, 23:15
@ 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.
PJ Mifsud
Oct 7th 2008, 11:03
@ 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!)
J Galea
Oct 7th 2008, 10:25
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?
Leo Borg Marks
Oct 6th 2008, 16:34
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.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 6th 2008, 15:57
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.
David Meilak
Oct 6th 2008, 15:32
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.
Noel Tonna
Oct 6th 2008, 13:37
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.
Charles Micallef
Oct 6th 2008, 11:56
What a sad, sad loss,
may god comfort his family in these tragic circumstances.
RIP Brian
M. Buhagiar
Oct 6th 2008, 11:10
What heartbreaking news! My condolences to this boy's family and friends.