Updated - Tourist rescued after Comino incident - another 12 assisted

A 15-year-old Italian tourist was rescued by an AFM rescue team after an incident in Comino this afternoon.

The tourist had been diving into the sea when she hit some rocks and suffered back injuries.

The alarm was raised by a lifeguard, and the young Italian was flown to Mater Dei Hospital on an Alouette Helicopter.

The incident happened at about 1.30 p.m.

Volunteer lifeguards of the Emergency Rescue Corps said they assisted a total of 13 people in Comino today, including the casualty that was airflown to hospital.

Five people suffered minor injuries, five tired swimmers needed assistance to reach the shore safely and three poeple suffered spinal injuries.  The latter, all involving women, were caused as the three jumped from high rocks at  Kemmunet  into the water below.   

The Lifeguarding service at Blue lagoon is being run on a daily basis till the end of September.  The service is possible due to sponsorship from the  from the Malta Tourist Authority to cover the running costs,  Ministry for Gozo – ECO Gozo, to buy the necessary infrastructure.   Support is also being provided by  Transport Malta Civil Protection Department and Transport Malta.