Epic Sea Books. The Crying Sea. Paddy Cummins

This new novel sheds light on one of the most intriguing sea mysteries of recent times. A year has now passed since the tragedy but the Maltese people are still shocked and bewildered. They are still baffled and unconvinced with the explanations offered and the scant evidence produced to show what really happened on that ill-fated voyage.

During the early morning of Monday 7th July 2008, at around 5am, Simon Bugeja, the master of the fishing vessel 'Simshar' left the port of Marsaxlokk for a swordfishing trip. Also on board the vessel were: Karmenu Bugeja, (father of Simon Bugeja), Theo Bugeja (eleven-year-old son of Simon Bugeja), Noel Carabott (33-year-old Maltese crewman) and Abdulrahman Abdala Gedi (a 19-year-old Somalia national).

On Saturday 12th July 2008, Sharon Bugeja (Wife of Skipper Simon) reported the fishing vessel 'Simshar' missing. The Armed Forces of Malta embarked on a search and rescue operation.

On Thursday 17th July 2008, the body of Noel Carabott was found by the fishing boat 'Laura 11', 58 miles west south west of Malta. The Autopsy revealed the cause of death was asphyxia, due to drowning. There were no signs of violence or burns on the body.

On Friday 18th July 2008, the body of Karmenu Bugeja was located at sea by helicopter AB212, 60 miles west south west of Malta. Cause of death was shown by the Aotopsy to be asphyxia, due to drowning. No signs of violence or burns were found on the body.

On Friday 18th July 2008, Simon Bugeja (the master) was found alive by the fishing vessel, 'Grecale', 59 miles west south west of Malta.

On Saturday 19th July 2008, the body of Abdulrahman Gedi was found by the fishing vessel, 'Al Hadra', 61 miles west south west of Malta. The Autopsy said death was caused by asphyxia, due to drowning. The body did have severe burns on the front and the back.

Genetic profile testing on the skin tissue found on the raft on which the survivor was found, excluded that it belonged to any of the deceased recovered from the sea. It however, could not exclude that it belonged to Theo Bugeja (the son of Simon and Sharon Bugeja). The body of Theo Bugeja was never found.

These are the bare facts. Evidence exists to back them up.

But what really happened to the 'Simshar'? What is the true story of the first fishing boat disaster that Malta has suffered since 1924.

In its aftermath, the island was awash with rumour and innuendo, raw anger inflamed by incredible conspiracy theories,and report of Maltese and Sicilian fishermen at war. The government was forced to act. Two official inquiries were set up. A preliminary Marine Department investigation and a full blown police inquiry.

Will they unearth the truth?

The sole survivor, Skipper Simon Bugeja, has told his story, the sequence of events that led to the tragic shipwreck and the crew's desperate struggle for survival. His testimony is taken at face value, but huge questions remain unanswered. There is no independent evidence to corroborate his account of what happened.

While researching his novel 'The Crying Sea', Paddy Cummins spent many months living among the fishermen in the little harbour of Marsazlokk discussing  the tragedy and hearing their considered views of how and why it happened.

This reservoir of experience and knowlege of fishing and the sea is the source of the storyline of 'The Crying Sea' Its conclusions closely adheres to the skipper's version, a tale of mystery, intrigue and intense human drama.

The most heart-wrenching scene is the portrayal of a brave little boy being cradled in the arms of his dad on a makeshift raft, without food or water, for six harrowing days and nights, after the other crewmembers died one by one, and how they both kept each other alive beyond normal endurance limits. It also describes an anguished mother keeping a vigil of torture, while a massive air and sea search tried to find them.

Damien Tiernan, author of the classic sea book 'Souls of the Sea', in his review of 'The Crying Sea' says: "A superb read....A story that will remain with you forever."