Brit tourist drowns at Malta's world famous landmark in pleasure boat tragedy

A British tourist has drowned at a world famous landmark in Maltaafter using a slide from a pleasure boat into the sea.

The 43-year-old entered into the turquoise waters at the Blue Lagoon in Comino at around 1.30pm on Tuesday but then found himself in difficulty. Holidaymakers spotted him having gone underwater and pulled him to the surface, where they began CPR - but he was later pronounced dead in hospital.

A police spokesperson said Magistrate Brigitte Sultana has launched an inquiry into the tragedy. Volunteer first-aiders from Malta’s Emergency Response and Rescue Corps had rushed to the scene and took him to Mgarr Harbour in Gozo.

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Paramedics then treated him but the man was tragically pronounced dead on arrival at Victoria Hospital. He is the 13th person to have been recorded as drowning in Malta this year and the third in Comino, which is a popular destination for tourists.

A 35-year-old Italian man died last month after also getting into difficulty at the Blue Lagoon while in April the body of a 71-year-old fisherman was found off the coast of Comino, a few hours after he was reported missing.

A Spanish tourist died after an accident in the water where she was hit by a propeller while getting onboard a boat in Comino. She suffered serious injuries during the incident in July and later passed away.

Each year sadly it is not uncommon for people to get into trouble in the sea, with 14 dying in 2024 according to police records. While being one of Malta's biggest attractions, the Blue Lagoon has long been the subject of safety fears, including for its natural ecosystems.

On its website it states about safety: "In Blue Lagoon there are life guards that will make sure that you will stay safe. Since May and until October there is a swimming area that is covering the whole lagoon and allows you to swim in safety.

"However keep in mind that since the Blue Lagoon is open from both sides, in certain days, currents can be strong and swimming in the lagoon can be relatively difficult. Always check the flags around the lagoon and listen to the indications of the life guards."

A project titled 'Blue Lagoon Rehabilitation: Balancing Nature and Experience' was announced by Maltese officials earlier this month, including plans to enlarge the swimming area by around 5,600 square-metres.

It will also involve the removal of kiosks from the beauty spot's shoreline, to be replaced by a 200-metre walkway, and the relocation of boat docking areas to ensure a safe distance from the swimming zones.