The four Maltese citizens who lost their lives when their car plunged into the sea while on holiday in Croatia have been identified.
Jeremy Gambin, 68, and his wife Lorraine (Cynthia), 67, (photo, from Facebook) both residents of Swieqi, died alongside close friends Kevin Bonnici, 67, and his wife Alexandra, 66.
The couples were travelling together along the scenic Adriatic Coast on Thursday afternoon when their vehicle veered off the coastal D8 road and crashed into the sea.
Jeremy Gambin was a respected figure in Maltese basketball, having coached Luxol and represented Malta at the 1987 Games of the Small States of Europe in Monaco. He also worked as a physical education teacher at St Michael’s Foundation. He and Lorraine leave behind three children and several grandchildren.
Kevin Bonnici had a long career that included work with Air Malta in its finance, flight operations and engineering departments. He and Alexandra are survived by two children and grandchildren.
Croatian media reported that the driver of the vehicle lost control on a bend near Senj, struck two stone barriers and plunged around 70 metres down a ravine before landing in the sea.
Officer Jasmin Mujaković, one of the first responders, stripped off his uniform and made repeated dives to a depth of 16 metres in an effort to reach the trapped passengers. However, the force of the water and the condition of the wreck made the rescue impossible.
One victim’s body surfaced some distance from the car, while the other three were recovered from inside the vehicle. The car itself was pulled from the water the following day in what divers described as one of the most challenging operations of their careers.
Malta’s foreign ministry expressed condolences to the families and confirmed it is coordinating with Croatian authorities.
In Swieqi, deputy mayor Jordan Galea Pace paid tribute during the Ġieħ is-Swieqi ceremony, where a minute’s silence was observed. He remembered Lorraine as a familiar and active presence in the community, and described Mr Gambin – his former coach – as a deeply respected man.