Shipyard worker passes away after getting stuck in gate valve

36-year-old diver passes away after allegedly getting stuck in a gate valve while working on a caisson. 

Patrick Vella - lost his life while on duty. Photo Facebook
Patrick Vella - lost his life while on duty. Photo Facebook

A 36-year old diver who was working on a caisson in the Palumbo shipyard of Bormla passed away after allegedly getting stuck in a gate valve.

At 11:30am, the diver swam underwater to commence work on the dock gate. After some time had passed and he still hadn’t surfaced, somebody at the shipyard called for assistance. Divers from the Civil Protection Unit and from the Armed Forces’ Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit, as well as a medical team arrived on the scene.

Five divers conducted a search for the missing worker and eventually found him stuck in a gate valve. It has not yet been confirmed how he ended up there, but sources have suggested that somebody who wasn’t aware of the diver’s presence opened a valve, consequently pulling him into the hole with a great force.

The diver was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital but was certified dead on arrival.

This is the first fatal workplace tragedy case this year. Police from the Bormla district are investigating the case.