Updated: Rescued Briton swam away after being surrounded by jellyfish
A British woman who sparked a search and rescue operation last night when she went missing while swimming near Delimara has explained that she swam away because she was surrounded by jellyfish.
Kirsty Pike, who was rescued by the AFM after having initially been reported as having fallen overboard during a boat party, said she had not fallen overboard but had been happily swimming until a number of jellyfish surrounded her.
"I swam away as fast as I could and unfortunately ended up pretty far from the boat. I took shelter near a cave where I could half stand and was too scared to swim back because of the jellyfish," Ms Pike told timesofmalta.com.
"I am absolutely fine now, other than being hugely embarrassed (even more so now that this is now public knowledge!), a big thank you to the guys who rescued me. Thank you to my friends on the boat too and sorry for worrying you so much."
The 31-year-old Briton was rescued just after midnight.
The alert was raised at 11.10 p.m. when the luzzu Delfino reported to the AFM' Operations Center that a person was missing overboard in the vicinity of il-hofor near Xrobb l-ghagin. There were 26 persons partying on board at the time.
An AFM Maritime Squadron rescue launch, together with divers from 3rd Regiment AFM, was sent to the area and inshore patrol boat 'P21' was also directed to assist in the search.
The missing woman was sighted by soldiers who were on a dinghy at 12.30 a.m. She was near a cave along the shore line.
The woman's condition was described as good and she was only suffering from shock and exposure (initial hypothermia).
She was taken to the maritime base at Haywharf where an ambulance was waiting.
WOMAN 'HAD GONE FOR A SWIM'
Meanwhile, the master of the Delfino said this morning that the woman had not fallen overboard but had gone for a swim near the caves. The alert was raised when she was not seen again after some time.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
49 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 7th 2010, 23:57
Brincat do you make it a habit shooting vindictive - so Maltese, self-damaging - ditto, so self-limiting - ditto u kif! to total strangers you wouldn't know from Adam. So you'd say you know me from my comments. What?! on the basis that one put forward a more plausible interpretation to an event? And you call this pseudo. I don't do pseudo anything (as if what you say is any of my business). It's like the faith thingy. Some people believe in god. I google plausibility. Works a charm (although it doesn't win me many friends in gullible Malta - and see where that has got it. Does not know whether it's coming or going. And you, Brincat, should apply pseudo where you should. And read TS Eliot. But you needn't. He's only saying the obvious. To me anyway. But then I was inducted in reality checks a long time ago. Try it. What have you to lose but your invidja). Anyhow, anything but gullible. That makes people dull. And clinging on to what, exactly? A word of advice. Has anyone ever told you that unresolved envy is a destroyer, like Konan?
Hope you didn't choke on the jellyfish.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 6th 2010, 22:39
Shaw who? I get the point. But I prefer T.S.Eliot - 'people can't bear much truth'.
Some see the world through rose-tinted glasses. Yet others through the bottom of a pint-glass. I prefer scrutiny under a microscope. Because - I can think of many an instance when a soupcon of cynicism saved lives. And a soupcon of gullibility which cost idem (that's Latin for 'lives).
To anyone who subscribes to the Shavian take on cynicism, maybe they could think back to a situation in their 'bully-for-you' excuse for a life when a little more knowledge would have saved them their angst. Go on! Be daring! What have you got to lose by your self-damning gullibility. Try a little bit of cynicism, but extreme. Try atheism. What have you got to lose but your soul.
Me patronising?! Neva!!!!
I wonder if some commenters here are being subjective because the rescued briton is a woman. And had it been a man they'd have kept their traps shut. I cannot help the cynicism you see. It works a charm. Every time. Until I'm proven otherwise. The captain's story's been told. It is now etched in stone. To some.
J Brincat
Jul 7th 2010, 12:24
Gullibility would be anyone who actually believes the above. No matter how pseudo intelligent you try and be it does not disguise the fact that you have no idea what you are talking about and this is evident to all rather than my "envy" (envy of what I would ask?!!?). Enough said! I am going to go eat a jellyfish!!
Joe Xuereb
Jul 6th 2010, 22:36
@ J.Brincat. I put forward a number of possible scenarios, loop-holes if you like, at variance with that given by the Delfino. Naturally, I did not expect any commenters to give me answers; how would they know any more than I do?
That said, it is interesting that the first comments were about 'don't be embarrassed dear', 'as long as you're alright, dear'. Interesting because after my comment, others followed that picked up my tread. My objective, as always, was achieved. Interesting too that you bring in patronage of others, that you and others too have experiences, etc. I you learned to understand, well! not nuances so much, then you wouldn't write such comments.
Now forgive yourself for wilfully exposing your envy - such a Maltese characteristic, that, second only to gullibility - in public.
Joe Fenech
Jul 6th 2010, 18:34
Teresa Pace
Jul 6th 2010, 15:30
Stuff it all....the woman is safe and that is all that matters. Cheers!
Joe Xuereb
Jul 6th 2010, 11:45
When I post a comment it is not with the expectation that everyone will agree with me. I don't do PC very well. It short-changes so.
My comment is merely a different take on a situation I have been through. It is very different to many comments here who are terribly, terribly PC. When some of us, all adults took a dip in the Blue Grotto, I cannot for the life of me imagine the owner of the boat leaving us there. He allowed us five mintues and then we were recalled. Some of us had a pepsi in hand, maybe.
To the bright spark who suggested ringing the captain - why doesn't he practise a little cynicism and ring himself. He might be pleased with the response.
Comments are read (or ignored) for us to use as measure against our opinions. I do that and naturally veer towards non-gullibility. I left infantilism when I was four or five. The world has taught me a lot. But then my world extends way beyond Malta. If nothing else, because I don't live there and haven't done for near to fifty years. Evviva abroad!
J Brincat
Jul 6th 2010, 14:31
I would start off by saying that I am not bothered to ring the captain and only suggested that you would as you are obviously aggrieved that noone is responding to your many questions posted below (hence why you are throwing your toys out the pram by stating that everyone here are like toddlers by not referring solely to your comments).
As a secondary point I do not live in Malta and have not done for many years so your condescending generalisation is once again glaringly obvious. We have all had experiences of our own and maybe you should eat a little humble pie and stop preaching like you are the only enlightened one on this site.
jane deguara nee hughes
Jul 6th 2010, 10:37
jelley fish glow in the dark... especially the purple ones, so she would have seen them for sure...
Charlot Cauchi
Jul 6th 2010, 09:40
How on earth did she manage to see the jellyfish in the dark and how come she did not get stung since she was surrounded by such stingers.
Dorianne Caruana
Jul 6th 2010, 10:42
Of course you can see them, they glow when it's dark.........
charlot cauchi
Jul 6th 2010, 11:58
and how come she has not been stung? could it be because she applied jellyfish repellant cream !!
Dorianne Caruana
Jul 8th 2010, 17:35
It could be the case, now instead of questioning if she was stung or no or if she saw the jellyfish or not, thank the Lord that she's safe and sound!!!!
Ernest Vella
Jul 6th 2010, 08:44
meta ha nibdew naghmlu xi haga kontra l-bram pls....jingabru b'xi xibka irqajja ta bram per ezempju...dan ma jistax ikun li Sajf iehor ha naghmluh bil-biza tal-bram. L-idea tista tkun li jittelghu bnadar li jindikaw bram fiz-zona...jew avvizi fuq it-TV u radio dwar fejn possibilment jista jkun hemm bram minhabba kurrenti u rih
Frank D.Aquilina
Jul 6th 2010, 07:02
Mr.J.Xuereb should not expect other readers to comment solely on his line of thought, although well understood and appreciated. Everyone is free to intervene as he wishes on any part of the above article. This is not a forum where we are doing a single track analysis.
J Brincat
Jul 5th 2010, 22:43
@Joe Xuereb...thats a little bit of a condescending comment on your part don't you think?!! This is an open comments page and we are not here to address and discuss your point of view alone. Maybe you should give the captain a ring so that you can ask him your many questions and you can patronise them about their irresponsible behaviour.
For once I will leave you with a quote...
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."
George Bernard Shaw
J. Spiteri
Jul 5th 2010, 19:46
....she swam away because she was surrounded by jellyfish. Swimming AWAY from jellyfish....in total darkness! So how did she know which direction she should swim ?? Jellyfish can hardly be spotted while swimming in broad daylight, let alone in the dark ! Why did she not swim TOWARDS the boat, instead of away from it ??
mario camilleri
Jul 5th 2010, 15:48
more tuna in your meals more jellyfish in your sea, Boycott Tuna meals or buy a swingpools and pay water bills
Joe Xuereb
Jul 5th 2010, 13:11
@ Teresa Pace. It is not a sin to be a little less trusting you know.
I am so glad to see my 'cynical' comment was accepted and published at long last. And some joined me in my 'cynicism' (somebody mentioned alcohol intake - you didn't think Britons particularly go cruising with bottles of fizzy pop did you?).
But my elation was short-lived. The Maltese attention span is indeed deficient. In the time it takes for one to cross oneself (f'radda ta' salib), everybody was spouting about the edibility of jellyfish/bashing Chinese cuisine/marketability of jellyfish/demonising synthetic fishing-nets and so on. ONLY IN MALTA. Ah!! so easily distracted, like a toddler and his tantrums.
@Teresa Pace. It's not a sin to be a little less trusting you know.
mario genovese
Jul 5th 2010, 11:42
Nature has provided for everything. The only one and true reason why being hit by a jelllyfish made news in my old schooldays is that there were still a lot of natural predators offshore! It's useless beating round the bush............we are responsible for altering the course of nature.
Emanuel Debono
Jul 5th 2010, 10:59
@Joe E Galea
People in glass houses should never throw stones.........how true the saying..... yes the Chinese do eat a lot of things that maybe we find abhorant but so do we...........snails,horsemeat etc..
Tell that to other cultures and they say YUK!!!
Have you tasted Jellyfish?
Adrian Vassallo
Jul 5th 2010, 10:34
I beg to differ. The jellyfish are used in soups which are considered a delicacy in china!
Christopher Grainger
Jul 5th 2010, 09:42
More Tuna = less Jellyfish
Joss Galea
Jul 5th 2010, 14:23
More sea turtles = less jelly fish
Robert Zammit
Jul 5th 2010, 19:16
More sea turtles eat Jellyfish = none jellyfish More Clear sea = Less danger any Wild in sea More wage and less Buy
Frank D. Aquilina
Jul 5th 2010, 07:21
Unfortunately jellyfish cannot be stewed to make an edible delicacy, as otherwise we would soon have been able to get rid of them, in the same way as local fisherman using synthetic nets, have almost eliminated thriving populations of mullet, bream, and other fish near our shores.
Joe E Galea
Jul 5th 2010, 08:51
We should export the jellyfish to China, Japan, Vietnam, etc as they surely have jellyfish delicacies over there as they practically cook everything that moves.
J Brincat
Jul 5th 2010, 10:48
You can pan fry jelly fish (kind of like squid) and they taste good!! Can eat it with pasta and guess what....it's a known delicacy in China!!!
Pule' Carmel
Jul 5th 2010, 04:18
I hope that the Luzzu Delfino did not leave the area before the AFM reached the area. Weather permitting it should have dropped anchor and stayed all night with lights on, waiting in hope, that the missing passenger would return.
Once on a cruise liner, it was found that a passenger was missing. The captain did his homework and found that the passenger must have fallen off the ship 10 hours before. He turned his ship and backstepped through ten hours at the same speed and miraculously did find the passenger who was a " little drunk" when he fell from the decks.
When once a missing small aircraft could not find its way home and runnig out of fuel a Jumbo Captain got radio contact but would not know whether the small plane was behind or ahead of him. The Jumbo Captain told the other pilot to measure the elevation of the sun witht the horizontal, using the five folded fingers at arms length where each folded finger describes two degrees. Comparing this with his own elevation the Jumbo pilot knew the other's position and guided him to a disused runway on a small island this saving his life.
Jesmond Bugeja
Jul 6th 2010, 09:47
@Pule Carmel - For your information the Luzzu Delfino was anchored and stayed in the same spot and helped the AFM during the serach. The Luzzu stayed there until the AFM soldiers found the woman. This can be confirmed by the AFM and the poeple on board the Luzzu. The woman was found missing just before lifting anchor as it is normal procedure before leaving to perform a head count. In your post you are giving the impression that the luzzu left the area before the Briton was rescued - Which is not the fact.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 5th 2010, 01:22
I'm over the moon that this woman is safe. I presume that the Delfino was not 'sailing' when she decided to go into the water for a swim. Her friends must have seen her swimming. What time was this? And the Delfino went on its happy sailing? And what time did they notice she was missing? Why did it take so long between her swim and her rescue? Why did her absence take so long to be noticed (presumably, the boat was waiting for her to come on board again after her swim. By their own admission, she did not fall. Anybody leaving a boat voluntarily to swim will be asked to board again so the cruise can proceed. Why did this not happen? Why waste valuable resources to sort out people's irresponsible behaviour.
I am glad this good swimmer is safe. She could, however, be more careful about the people she goes sea-cruising with.
Me cynical?! Nah!!!
Nicolai Pfister
Jul 4th 2010, 23:24
WOW... and not it is an unforgettable birthday party. Happy end.
Teresa Pace
Jul 4th 2010, 19:49
No need to be embarrassed. The good thing is that you are safe and sound...that's all that matters; and to realise that you have some good friends. Jellyfish are nasty creatures to have around....think I would have done the same...or scared them away with my screaming that is!!! Cheer up!
m.grech
Jul 5th 2010, 18:26
I totally agree thank God that Ms Pike is safe and sound. To Ms Pike don't worry about being embarrassed coz you did the right thing. There is nothing worse than being afraid of something in the water and panicking while you are swimming. Hope you have a great holiday for the rest
s.koludrovic
Jul 4th 2010, 16:40
All well that ends well. However if maybe she shouted out I,m sure she could have been heard by the people on board the luzzu.
James A. Tyrrell
Jul 4th 2010, 16:13
For whatever reason the lady got separated from the boat, and made it to a location where she could wait safely for rescue. Surely instead of picking holes in her story we should be thankful that the report in the paper did not read, 'British tourist dies in swimming accident!'
Len Zammit
Jul 4th 2010, 15:48
@ M'anne Mercieca: That was exactly my first thought!
Marianne Mercieca
Jul 4th 2010, 14:38
How come she saw the jellyfish in the middle of the night when I can barely see them at noon??
Noel Enriquez
Jul 4th 2010, 15:46
Haha,.. I got the same question!!
ryan said
Jul 5th 2010, 01:30
jellyfish glow in the dark !!! if you work on sea like i do you can see them glowing in the water
G Camilleri
Jul 4th 2010, 12:58
Hypothermia ?? 24°C ? lol
Anne Marie Bonello
Jul 5th 2010, 18:11
normal body temperature is 27 degrees, so Yes, even if the sea is 24 degrees, heat is still lost from the body to the sea.
Michael Pace
Jul 6th 2010, 04:21
It's 37º.
joseph cachia
Jul 4th 2010, 12:54
Will AFM present Delfino Master with the EU6000 bill to cover AFM expenses in rescuing and a fine for letting his naive passenger swim during the night in unknown waters ???
Paul Barrett
Jul 4th 2010, 12:42
She was "jellynapped" LOL
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jul 4th 2010, 12:16
If only she had swam in the opposite direction...towards the boat...
Charles Micallef
Jul 4th 2010, 11:28
You do not have to be embarrased Kirsty, you are amongst friends in MALTA
Irene Galea
Jul 4th 2010, 10:56
Kirsty did not fall overboard. she simply went for a swim, and upon noticing that the sea was swarmed with jellyfish, she did what any normal person would have done and swam to the caves. she stayed there until she was rescued. Kirsty has now fully recovered.
Irene Galea
Jul 4th 2010, 10:38
Kirsty simply went for a swim, and upon noticing that the sea was swarmed with jellyfish, she swam to the cave and stayed there until she was rescued. She has fully recovered from the ordeal.