Patrick Vella, a 36-year-old diver from Zejtun,  died in an accident at Palumbo Shipyards this morning.

A spokesman for Palumbo said the company called SalpaSub for assistance when it noticed that a drydock was taking much longer than usual to be emptied.
When Mr Vella, a director of SalpaSub, arrived, he dived to see what was wrong but did not return to the surface. This was around 11.45am.

Palumbo called for assistance and a search was launched by members of the Civil Protection Department and the Armed Forces.

Mr Vella, a marine biologist, was eventually brought up by the AFM and taken to Mater Dei Hospital, where he died soon after.

An inquiry is being held.

 

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