Oriana Bertolino, 31 years old, from Marsala, died yesterday evening on the island of Gozo, Malta, falling into the sea from a cliff with a quad driven by a 47-year-old from Marsala who was safe. The victim was a well-known volleyball player, who had recently also become technical assistant of the local Marsala Volleyball team.
The accident
The accident occurred on Saturday around 8pm, near “Wied il-Mielah”, close to Gharb, a scenic and suggestive place known for its rocky walls overlooking the sea. She was taking part in a group excursion to watch the sunset. The Maltese police reported that the driver of the quad who managed to save himself, lost control of the vehicle, apparently due to a steering problem. Bertolino’s body was recovered after the searches, but the young woman died from her injuries. The man, however, was treated for minor injuries at the hospital in Gozo. Magistrate Brigitte Sultana is conducting an investigation.
A 25 meter jump into the sea
It was a jump of over 25 meters directly into the sea that killed the girl. The Italian embassy in Malta has been in constant contact with the victim’s family, until the official identification of the body. The Maltese police reported that the group of hikers, fearing they would arrive late and not be able to see the sunset from such an enchanted and wild place, all started racing on the quad along a dirt road. The driver of the vehicle where Oriana was was apparently unable to stop in time before the end of the cliff, which overlooks the sea. Bertolino’s body was recovered after the searches, but the young woman died from her injuries. The Times of Malta opens its online edition with the news of the dead Sicilian volleyball player, calling her “a kind soul”.
