I refer to the article by Eddie Attard entitled ‘Some deadly workplace tragedies of the past’, (The Sunday Times of Malta, December 9). It is a timely article about the importance of improving safety standards in Malta, and of the sad but historical legacy of a lack of standards in the country.
The article revealed details about my father’s death in a construction accident, details that I never knew, and no one in my family had ever communicated to me. Let me recount the story and express my gratitude.
I am a Maltese-born 80-year-old lady who has lived in Canada since 1961. I was born in Mġarr on May 14, 1938. I had been told that my father died suddenly in an accident before I was born. But there were never any details beyond that. And this is where this article was very helpful.
The article described the accident on August 20, 1937, and names my father, Żarenu Sammut, as one of three who died in a Gżira sewer. Now thanks to Mr Attard I know where that accident happened and what happened to those who were responsible.
What makes the story even more interesting is that my parents Żarenu and Anna (née Grech) were married on June 20, 1937. That means that they were married only two months before he died. Sad as that is, what’s special here is that a few months after he died my mom discovered she was pregnant.
I was born on May 14, 1938, which means, given a normal 38- to 40-week gestation period, I was conceived in the one to two weeks before my father’s death. My grandmother always told me I was “a gift from heaven”!
This story reminds me of both the providential timing of my conception, and the tragedy that meant I never met my father.
To say that reading the article was emotional for me is an understatement. In some ways, it unearthed an ocean of feelings. But in another way, it was extremely helpful and has brought some closure to this part of my life, now more than 80 years later.
I hope that no one has to experience the pain brought on by safety accidents like the ones described by Mr Attard. I thank him for drawing attention to this issue. Most importantly though, through his journalistic work, he also helped me personally. Thank you very much.