A re-enactment yesterday became all too real when an 18-year-old man from Tarxien was critically injured when he was struck with a sword at Fort Rinella.

The incident took place when the victim was acting out a duel with a colleague, a 25-year-old man from Sta Venera.

According to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna chairman Mario Farrugia, the incident occurred in front of guests during a scheduled daily tour of Fort Rinella.

Although the fighters had carried out the duel many times before, a mistake appears to have been made when the victim came in the path of the other fighter’s sword.

Mr Farrugia said that all re-enactors had some degree of bodily protection, including face-masks, but the extent of the protection was limited for reasons of “authenticity”.

The man was reportedly kept in the Intensive Treatment Unit overnight before he was transferred to another ward.

Sources said the threat to the man’s life was infections that might have developed, rather than injuries sustained during the actual fight.

The police do no believe there was any malicious intent behind the incident.