According to the Times of Malta and The New York Post, on June 27 local time, a famous natural rock arch in Malta, known as the 'Kiss Elephant', collapsed, resulting in the death of a 26-year-old Chinese man. About 24 hours after the incident, on June 28, the body of the man was recovered and brought ashore.
The search and rescue operation that lasted all day was carried out jointly by divers from the Maltese Civil Protection Department and the armed forces. The man was trapped underwater, pressed down by a collapsing rock.
A spokesman for the Malta Civil Protection Department said that a crane on a barge removed the debris, and then divers carried out the difficult task of salvaging the body and handing it over to the police.
According to reports, at around 7 p.m. on June 27 local time, the man crossed under the archway on a motorboat. At that moment, the archway collapsed. There was also a 27-year-old Chinese woman on the motorboat at the time; she was seriously injured and rushed to the hospital.
Witnesses provided photos of the rescue workers at the scene. Malta Times
It is reported that shortly before the incident, a 32-year-old American tourist jumped into the water from the Arch, causing the arch to collapse. The American tourist was rescued by passing boats and did not require medical treatment.
In the preliminary search on the 27th, the police used surveillance footage to help determine the exact events of the accident and the number of victims. Judge Monica Viera is leading the investigation.
