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Author: Herman
Grech
Date: 06.07.2001
AFM rescue three German divers at Wied iz-Zurrieq
Three German divers were rescued by the Armed Forces
yesterday after finding themselves in difficulty while diving
off Wied iz-Zurrieq.
The incident happened about 200 metres north of Wied
iz-Zurrieq at about 1.30 p.m., when three divers from a group
of eight were reported to be in difficulty after the currents
suddenly dragged them out.
The three are Oliver Hölzhein, 32, Nick Stöecker, 22, and
Elger Pulvermüeller, 27.
The alarm was raised by a bar owner who informed the AFM`s
operations centre at Luqa Barracks.
The group of eight were from a diving school in Gozo, and
had just been on the Umm El Faroud wreck.
A spokesman from the school said the three divers were very
experienced.
Men from AFM`s 2nd Regiment Maritime and Air Squadron were
immediately sent to the area to provide assistance.
The AFM used two Alouette SA 316 helicopters, piloted by
Capt. Michael Farrugia and Sgt. Ivan Marmara, and the Melita 1
rescue vessel, skippered by Sgt. Grazio Sammut, in the rescue
operation.
Sgt. Roger Mulvaney, an Air Squadron senior rescuer, was
lowered into the sea near the stranded divers, and encouraged
them to climb to higher ground, after the divers had managed
to swim to a reef.
They were then winched up to safety by the rescue personnel
on board the two SAR helicopters.
The divers were unhurt and escaped with only some
scratches, the AFM said.
The operation was coordinated on the ground by Capt. Martin
C. Galea. | 
