Malta's Heartache. Army decision cost little boy's life?

Malta's worst fishing disaster since 1924 occurred on Thursday 10th July 2008, when an explosion and fire sank the 'Simshar'. The crew: Skipper Simon Bugeja, his father Karmenu, his eleven-year-old son, Theo, and two crewmen, Noel Carabott and Abdulrahman Abdala Gedi were forced to abandon ship, construct a makeshift raft and float away aimlessly, without food or water, or any means of sending a distress signal.

They were like tiny specks on the surface of the vast Mediterranean Sea, suffering from the scorching heat during daytime and extreme cold at night. All of the crew perished one by one except Skipper Simon Bugaja, who was found in an appalling physical condition and near to death.

The people of Malta were thrust into shock and bewilderment. The island was saturated with rumour and innuendo, intense anger inflamed by incredible conspiracy theories and widespread reports 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.

Would the truth be found? What really happened to the 'Simshar and her crew?

The sole survivor, Skipper Simon Bugeja, has given his account of the sequence of events that led to the tragedy and the crew's heroic struggle for survival. His evidence has been noted, but huge questions still remained to be answered. There was no independent evidence to corroborate his testimony.

On the 26th June 2009, the 'Preliminary Inquiry' of Dr. Ann Fenech, held in terms of the 'Merchant Shipping Act' relating to the fishing vessel, 'Samsher' known as 'Simshar' was published.

In the Introduction to her 140 page report, Dr. Fenach stated:

"To-day eleven months later and notwithstanding the substantial amount of material gathered as can be seen from the Annexes to this report, I am not in posession of additional evidence which would confirm that what Simon Bugeja said happened, took place exactly as he says it did, or additional evidence which would negate or contradict what Simon Bugeja has stated."

Dr Fenech then gave a list of facts, by which she "wished to emphasise were 'strictly facts' i.e. events and occurrences which can be corroborated."

These are as follows:

On Monday 7th July 2008, at around 5 am, Simon Bugeja, the Master of the fishing vessel, 'Simshar' left the port of Marsaxlokk for a fishing trip. Also on board were: Karmenu Bugeja (father of Simon), Theo Bugejo (eleven-year-old son of Simon), 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 by helicopter AB212, 60 miles west south west of Malta. Cause of death was shown by the autopsy 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 on a makeshift raft, by the fishing vessel 'Gracale', 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 revealed that death was caused by asphyxia, due to drowning. The body did have severe burns on the front and the back.

In evidence taken from the skipper of the 'Laura 11', confirmed by the Armed Forces of Malta, Dr Fenech established that when the crew of the 'Laura 11' found the body of Noel Carabott in mid-afternoon on Thursday 17th July 2008, the Armed Forces ordered them not to disclose the information to anyone. Consequently, this crucial fact remained concealed until mid-day on Friday 18th July 2008. The reason given by the Armed Forces for this embargo was to prevent panic until identification was confirmed.

Meanwhile, a number of fishing boats were randomly searching in various locations over a wide expance of sea. They were searching for a boat, without any indication of where to look, unaware of the shipwreck, or that bodies were in the water.

In his post-rescue evidence, Simon Bugeja stated that his young son, Theo, was alive on Thursday 17th July 2008, but died during Thursday night and his body slipped from the raft.

The boatmen say that "had they been informed of the discovery of Noel Carabott's body immediately it was found, they would all have rushed to the location and thoroughly searched the surrounding area." They are now convinced that they would have found the raft with Simon and Theo alive. They point to the 'fact' that all three bodies and Simon were found within a very small area.

Did a vital decision of the Armed Forces of Malta cost little Theo his life?

Did the hours when crucial information was withheld from the searching fishermen prove fatal for a brave little boy, who miraculously had survived for six harrowing days?

We will never know.