A Polish couple became the first fatalities of the year when they drowned in a tragic accident off the coast of Qala yesterday afternoon.

According to the police, the 50-year-old woman was sitting on the rocks when a wave dragged her into the water.

The man, who was with her, appears to have jumped into the sea in an attempt to rescue her, only to be carried away by the waves too.

Though, according to some accounts, the sea was not rough at the time of the tragedy, the area is known to be susceptible to the odd freak wave. According to timesofmalta.com, the man was seen taking pictures of the woman shortly before tragedy struck.

The AFM were informed and immediately carried out a search in the area. The victims, who had not been named at the time of writing, were already dead when rescuers retrieved them from the water.

The police said the incident took place at about 3.10pm in the area in Qala known as Tas-Simar.

He was seen taking pictures of the woman shortly before the tragedy

Tas-Simar is an isolated rocky outcrop on the easternmost point of Gozo. A disused limestone quarry in the area was identified this year for the development of a new cruise liner terminal and luxury yacht marina.

Rough seas have been responsible for several similar accidents in the past around this time of year.

Last February, a Chinese woman went missing and a Hungarian man had to be rescued on the same day after both were dragged into the water by waves in Dwejra.

A Polish man had died in similar circumstances in the same area the previous March.

Last summer, three British tourists also drowned in two separate incidents after being swept away by strong currents in Comino’s Blue Lagoon, across the channel from Qala.

A magisterial inquiry into the death of the couple is being held.