A fully-clothed man walked to the edge of a Buġibba quay, jumped head-first into the water and was recovered lifeless about 15 minutes later yesterday afternoon.

The police believe the man drowned and do not suspect suicide.

Witnesses who spoke to The Times said they first spotted the large man walking down the steps opposite Buġibba’s main square.

He seemed to be in his mid-50s and was probably British. He was dressed in a shirt, jeans and black leather lace-up shoes.

They then saw him walking straight to the edge of the quay and jumping in, at around 4.10 p.m.

The fact that he dived into the water fully clothed was considered odd but at first he was swimming. He later turned on his back and lay in the water.

“At one point, my husband remarked how well he could hold his breath,” one witness said. At that point the swimmer, who did not seem to be struggling, was lying face down in the water and turning over occasionally.

A group of male onlookers who were at the top of the steps spotted the body floating about a quarter of an hour later, about 20 metres out, and alerted the police.

One man quickly untied his boat and went to his assistance. However, on closer inspection, it was evident that the body was lifeless.

The police brought the body ashore.

A sizeable crowd of locals and foreigners gathered sombrely at the scene, while the busy piazza behind them was buzzing with pre-summer activity.

The man’s body remained covered on the quay for a while, with a policeman standing by, as a magisterial inquiry got under way.