Updated: Briton injured while rock climbing - rescued by helicopter

S. Fenech

Nov 17th 2009, 16:19

Isn't that a closed quarry in the video?

Mark Busuttil

Nov 17th 2009, 14:54

Job well done. Rescuers everywhere put their lives on the line to help total strangers everyday.

Joe Xuereb

Nov 17th 2009, 12:27

Thanks Flynn, William. I left home when I was nineteen so I was a London 'young man'. My father, certainly no academic, took us kids to Hagar Qim when I was a boy. My love-affair with archaeology, and Malta's mysterious mythology, never left me. Thanks dad. Sorry I'll never see you again, but that's OK. Thanks for sharing your recollection William. It's always been my ambition to see Hagar Qim under a full moon. Maybe one day. I've many memories of the area some not fit for a family paper. Ah! the watch-tower under the Qim! And you talking of crutches, we went on a school hike and one of my school mates had some condition that required walking sticks. I remember, in Wied Babu, the teacher said, 'so-and-so is struggling'. Amazing the snippets that stick in one's mind. Wonderful! All of fifty years ago at least. And sadly, last time I walked from the Qim to Mnajdra, I was pelted with stones by bird-trappers. Not very nice William. I would never trap a bird. God did not create them for my stupid enjoyment. For enjoyment I prefer other things, the kind that can acquiesce and consent to my 'cruelty'.

William P Flynn

Nov 17th 2009, 11:33

@Joe Xuereb

You should have been a Paola boy like me, rather than a London boy and would have done that hike on crutches.

As 12 year old boy scouts, we used to catch a bus to Zurrieq on Saturday afternoon, walk at night down to Wied Iz-Zurrieq and sleep in a tent or more usually wrapped in a blanket in a hot on top of the cliffs under the stars.

In the morning we'd have breakfast and take off from Wied iz-Zurrieq to Ghar Lapsi with a few swim stops and on to Siggiewi where we'd catch a bus home.

Later on with girlfriends, there would be many stops on the way...some for swimming breaks.

Once we went climbing and I slipped and dangled from a rope from a cliff for what seemed a long time. Luckily my friend Charlie Catania was there as anchor and my other mates hauled me back.
If you're reading this Charlie, I haven't forgotten.

A few years ago my wife and I with our youngest son and his girlfriend did the hike again 50 years on.
It was a hot day and we were happy to see that bus at Siggiewi.

christopher caul

Nov 17th 2009, 00:39

It"s nice to know how British tourists lives are valued in Malta by some mean nasty little people, Makes them easier to rob, does it? thank to the pilots who risked thier lives to save this chap.People will always have adventurous spirits in every country, this is normal human behaviour but such spiteful remarks are not normal in any country, Thank God

Joe Xuereb

Nov 16th 2009, 21:36

Once I was young and foolish. Now I am much older and still foolish at times.
I was alone once and decided to descent to sea-level beneath Mnajdra (I had been before in a group of feisty youngsters. Wonderful!). I started to walk - scramble in fact is more accurate, over huge boulders - due west towards (and I didn't know this at the time) Ghar Lapsi. I was getting tired and it was getting late. Do I turn back (the way I knew) or struggle on. It was scary. I carried on and eventually came to Ghar Lapsi. I think I got a lift from there and a bus took me to my hotel in Valletta. I'll never forget it. But here I am recalling it. Rock-climbing is exciting but dangerous. I was a London boy visiting home. Mnajdra and the sea thereabouts beckoned. Unsettling experience but I'll never forget it. Shame I have no grandchildren to relate it to.
I hope the injured man recovers.

Jesmond Micallef

Nov 16th 2009, 21:13

This reminds of one event where I was personally involved in. I reported to Mosta Police Station about a German male tourist having fallen off the Gnejna Bay cliffs. A helicopter and a patrol Boat where scrambled to the scene to rescue the poor fellow. This was way back in the early ninties.

I later followed the incident and it was a good feeling to know he was recovering in hospital.

To the rescuers. Well done.

Joe Mallia

Nov 16th 2009, 20:18

Gee lucky the Chopper wasn't damaged trying to rescue the Briton, as the blogger blow said Why Bother? if you put your finger in the fire, You are bound to get burnt

m.seager

Nov 16th 2009, 17:32

incredible video footage!! well done!!! just one question though... why bother??

Stephen Sammut

Nov 16th 2009, 16:09

A big well-done to the crew for their professional (5mins in all) rescue. Hopefully the guy'll recover without complications.

Rockclimbing's a fun and great sport, but crossing the very thin line that exists here can mean all the difference between injury and death. Congratulations for having setup proper support.

G. Attard

Nov 16th 2009, 15:20

I hope that the man will make a full recovery. Great work by the rescuers and pilot for a successfully rescuing the man. it's easy to forget that they put themselves in danger to save others and it is very fortunate that we have this great weather as any wind in that area could have easily hindered any hope of an airlift so close to the cliffs by helicopter.