A British tourist has tragically drowned at the renowned Blue Lagoon in Comino, Malta. The 43-year-old man fell into the sea after using a slide from a pleasure boat around 1.30pm on Tuesday. Witnesses reported that he quickly encountered difficulties and went underwater. Other holidaymakers managed to pull him to the surface and initiated CPR.

Despite their efforts, he was later pronounced dead at Victoria Hospital after being transported there by paramedics. A police spokesperson confirmed that Magistrate Brigitte Sultana has launched an inquiry into the incident.

Emergency responders from Malta’s Emergency Response and Rescue Corps arrived promptly at the scene and took the man to Mgarr Harbour in Gozo for medical assistance. This incident marks the 13th drowning recorded in Malta this year, with three occurring in Comino alone.

Previous drownings in the area include a 35-year-old Italian man who died last month at the Blue Lagoon and a 71-year-old fisherman whose body was discovered off Comino's coast in April. Additionally, a Spanish tourist suffered fatal injuries in July after being struck by a boat propeller while boarding.

The Blue Lagoon, a popular tourist destination, has faced ongoing safety concerns. In response, Maltese officials recently announced a project titled 'Blue Lagoon Rehabilitation: Balancing Nature and Experience'. This initiative aims to enhance safety by enlarging the swimming area by approximately 5,600 square metres, removing kiosks from the shoreline, and relocating boat docking areas to create a safer distance from swimming zones.