Photographer in tragic death was 'doting father' who disliked heights

Mario Agius, 57, from Sliema, died an unfortunate death doing the thing he loved most: photography, having worked in his Qormi shop since the age of 15, steered into the profession thanks to his father.

His son Thomas, 33, spoke to MaltaToday on the shock his family was going through as they come to terms with the tragic death of their father.

“He was scared of heights, and didn’t much love the water… and he died just like that,” Thomas Agius said.

Agius fell off the cliffs at Wied iz-Zurrieq while taking a pre-wedding shoot of a couple. He reportedly fell off the cliffs where he landed on the rocks below and then fell to sea. The fiancé jumped into the sea to succour Agius, who was then taken up shore by the boats at Wied iz-Zurrieq. His heartbeat had stopped by then, and he was momentarily revived, but his heartbeat was too weak after the fall.

“We received a call from the police in the morning yesterday, and told to go to Mater Dei hospital. The doctors there soon informed us that dad’s injuries were severe and he would not survive the ordeal,” Thomas Agius said. “He closed his eyes at 2pm, with all his family surrounding him.”

The circumstances surrounding the incident are still sketchy, and Agius’s children have still not spoken to the wedding couple who witnessed the accident.

Mario Agius, who was born in Paola, would have been 58 next week. He was the father of three children, Thomas, Edward, 29, and Noella, 20. He married Anna in 1975.

“He loved his grandchildren… he doted on them and was just living for them,” Thomas said. “He was very active in the Malta Photographic Association, and loved walking and watching movies, especially action films.”

Thomas described his dad as a “very generous person… he’d give his heart out not just to his family, but to anyone around him. He was a good man, we loved him, and we will remember him… he’ll be with us forever.”