Fishing boats and AFM patrol craft are continuing the search, with renewed vigour, for 11-year-old Theo Bugeja and an Ethiopian fisherman still missing following the loss of their fishing boat Simshar just over a week ago.

Theo's father Simon, who was dramatically rescued by fellow fishermen after days in the water, yesterday told his rescuers the approximate position where he had last seen his son on a float. The two had been together until late in the morning yesterday, when they drifted apart. Misunderstandings in communications between fishing craft had raised hopes that the boy had also been rescued, although those hopes were quickly dashed.

Two fishermen, Simon's father Karmenu and Noel Carabott were recovered dead yesterday.

Simon Bugeja said there had been an engine room explosion on his12-metre boat Simshar. Although Theo is believed to have died, some hope remains and the fishermen have said they will not give up their search.

Mr Carabott's badly decomposed body was located by a merchant ship 60 miles south west of Malta late on Thursday and brought to Malta early yesterday morning. Karmenu Bugeja's body was discovered in the afternoon and brought to Malta by a patrol boat this morning.

Simon Bugeja was pulled out of the water by the fishing boat Grecale, owned by a friend of his, fisherman Raymond Bugeja just before 8 p.m. Exhausted, injured and with thoughts of his son topmost in his mind, he was ferried to Mater Dei Hospital on an Italian Military Mission AB212 helicopter and his condition has been described as stable.

Air units are also taking part inthe search this morning.

The Simshar had been due to return to Marsaxlok yesterday week.