Update 2: AFM rescue kite surfer

A kite surfer who found himself in difficulty was rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta, some 200 metres off Comino.

Sources said that the army had dispatched a helicopter to assist a wind surfer who was reported to be in difficulty but who then turned out to be fine.

While the helicopter was still airborne, the army received a report that a kite surfer was in difficulty between Cirkewwa and Mgarr.

The helicopter was sent to assist the man, Keith Balzan of Swieqi, who was some 200 metres off Comino. He was winched onto land near the White Tower, where his friends were waiting.

An eyewitness, reader Alister Cachia, said he was photographing the kite surfers who were making the most of today's winds when he heard an AFM helicopter and realised that one had fallen close to the Gozo Channel vessel.

Later in the afternoon, the Sliema Waterpolo Pitch's management reported that two swimmers found themselves in difficulty while swimming some 300 metres from the waterpolo club.

The AFM dispatched a rescue-launch and spotted the two swimmers using a flotation device off Tigne Point.

An Air Wing Alouette helicopter was also scrambled into the air to provide assistance as required.

The two swimmers made it safely to shore but a police mobile unit dispatched to the area could not trace the swimmers, two boys, once they arrived on location to investigate.