Mark Gauci, who died after an accident at a quarry on Wednesday, will be remembered by the Mellieħa community as the jolly man who imitated the sound of a war siren during the village feast, which he “lived for”.

“There is this war siren that we play during the feast and Mark used to play it and imitate the sound with his mouth,” said his cousin, Toni Vella.

“He was the one who would always make people laugh and always had a smile on his face.”

Mr Gauci, 27, from Manikata, limits of Mellieħa, died on Wednesday night from the extensive injuries sustained when the truck he was driving overturned.

The accident happened in an Mġarr quarry at about 2pm on Wednesday when Mr Gauci was driving the heavy vehicle carrying boulders up a steep part of the site.

The truck started skidding backwards and Mr Gauci climbed out of the cabin but it suddenly overturned to the side he was on, crushing him.

I wanted to remember him the way I know him, as my jolly cousin who always had a smile on his face

“Mark loved big machinery. This was an accident and nothing could have been done, but I do appeal to people out there to be careful how they drive,” said Mr Vella.

Mr Vella was at work when he heard about the accident and could not believe it until he went to Mater Dei Hospital.

“I chose not to see him because I wanted to remember him the way I know – my jolly cousin who always had a smile on his face. We were like brothers,” he said.

They shared a passion for the Mellieħa village feast of Our Lady of Victory.

“He lived for the feast. He helped set up the fireworks. His dream was to see Mellieħa get a permit for its own fireworks factory so we won’t have to buy them anymore and can manufacture all the fireworks we need in-house,” said Mr Vella.

His friends, James Catania and David Bartolo, also remember Mr Gauci for his passion for the feast and his infectious smile.

“He was the one who would go out of his way to make you laugh if you were in a bad mood,” said Mr Catania.

Mr Bartolo added: “He always had a smile on his face.”

Dario Vella, Mr Gauci’s cousin, said: “Today, I lost part of my family, part of my life and also a close friend.

“Thank you, dear cousin, for always managing to change my mood when I was down.

“Pray for us from near Our Lady who you worked so hard for. May you rest in peace.”