Sunday, July 20, 2008
The only survivor is Simon Bugeja, 31, who held on to dear life for days as he saw the others around him perish. Bugeja is still in intensive care after he suffered burns. His son Theo, 11, was clinging on to him on board a raft until a few hours before the rescue, which occurred late Friday. But at one point, the boy slipped off the raft into the water and died.
The boy's body has not yet been retrieved. There are some 18 fishing boats out at sea helping in the search.
The community of the tranquil fishing village of Marsaxlokk is angry over what they describe as the local army's poor response to try to spot any survivors, a claim vehemently denied by the authorities.
The boat had been due back in Malta over a week ago.
Source: dpa, July 20, 2008