Divers injured in seaborne clash
Libya snubs calls for assistance
Libya's coastguard did not turn up to assist two divers injured in a clash with activists out at sea despite military and diplomatic requests for them to reach the site before the conflict had even started.
Tripoli was forewarned about a possible clash in its search and rescue area, according to Brigadier Martin Xuereb, commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, who said he was not in a position to say why the coastguard did not turn up.
The clash between fishermen and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society occurred on Thursday when the latter rammed a pen to free about 800 tunas in it.
The Libyans also failed to turn up when the fishermen radioed for help after the divers were injured in the clash on Thursday.
"We realised it would be better to coordinate a medical evacuation ourselves in the interest of the patients," said Brig. Xuereb. "But because they were about 170 nautical miles out, the boat carrying them was asked to sail towards the island at speed, where we could winch them onto a helicopter about 100 nautical miles out," he said.
The two divers were eventually flown to Mater Dei Hospital early yesterday morning by an Italian Military Mission helicopter.
Rueben Silvio was the most seriously hurt of the two. His arm had been ripped when he tried to remove a fishing hook used by the activists to try and tear the pen open. Climbing out of the helicopter, he was seen walking to a waiting ambulance with his arm bandaged.
Joe Barry was bruised by what the fishermen claim were rubber bullets, a claim denied by the activists.