A 26-year-old tourist died when Malta's 'Kissing Elephants' rock formation collapsed onto his jetski, an incident that occurred shortly after an American holidaymaker jumped from the natural arch into the sea.
The archway, located on the island of Comino, gave way around 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. The body of the victim was found pinned to the seabed by debris.
A 27-year-old woman, who was also on the jetski with the deceased, sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. Doctors at Gozo General Hospital have stated her injuries are not life-threatening. The American who jumped from the rock was rescued by a passing boat and did not require hospitalization.
Army divers located the body on Sunday evening but were initially unable to retrieve it due to the rocks. The debris was later lifted by a large crane with assistance from Malta's Civil Protection Department, allowing divers to recover the tourist's remains.
A Maltese magistrate has initiated an inquiry into the incident. The 'Kissing Elephants' formation on Comino's south coast was a popular spot for tourists renting jetskis and engaging in cliff jumping.
Comino is a small island northwest of Malta's mainland and is also known for the Blue Lagoon, a major tourist destination.