The 29-year-old woman who drove off the Ta’ Xbiex yacht marina and into the sea on Saturday remains in critical condition within the hospital’s intensive therapy unit, police said.
Remaining calm can save your life
Witnesses had told The Sunday Times of Malta that the woman spent some 30 minutes trapped in her sinking Toyota Vitz after the car went headlong into the sea just before 7am.
The Birkirkara woman had just dropped off her 40-year-old Turkish partner outside one of the yachts where he works.
Witnesses said they heard the man shout out her name, Michelle, as he jumped into the sea to try to save her. Later on two policemen borrowed dive masks from neighbouring boats, stripped down and swam out to help. But they did not manage to reach the woman as her car had drifted about 15 metres from the quay.
Then out of nowhere a diver appeared in a “little white boat” and managed to free the woman from her car, the witnesses said. Attempts to track down the diver yesterday proved futile.
It is still not clear what happened and how the car ended up in the sea.
What is one to do in the eventuality of ending up in such a situation? When contacted yesterday Civil Protection Department director John Rizzo said one of the most important things was to try not to panic. “Of course, this is easier said than done… But remaining calm can save your life,” he said.
He explained that the person inside the car should ideally prepare himself to allow the car to become completely submerged and water to enter the car so that the pressure inside and outside equalised. This would allow them to open the door and get out.
Seasoned diver Paul Sciberras agreed, adding that if the windows were closed the person inside should open them to allow the car to fill with water to equalise the pressure.
“The instinct will probably be to do the opposite and keep the water out but that may kill you,” he said, adding it was best to open and not break the window as the glass would fly at you as water gushed in.
And staying calm would be key . . .