20th July 1956

On the 20^th July 1956 Mr. Jack Smedley (40 years), who was a teacher at the Naval Technical School of the Malta Dockyard, was having a swim with Mr. Tony Grech (18 years), an ex-student of Mr. Smedley himself, at St Thomas Bay, Wied Il-Ghajn. Suddenly Mr. Smedley appeared going down, as if he was drowning, but then Mr. Grech realised that it was not the case. Something was pulling him down, whilst he shouted and disappeared under the sea. Tony felt something under him and then Jack reappeared with agony on his face and cried for help, but in seconds he was pulled back below and the only thing seen was a big patch of blood. Tony swam back to the shore and appealed people to report the matter to the police. Then Tony went with another man on a small boat to search for Mr. Smedley but there was no sign of him.