"A 24-year-old woman from Zabbar - Tamara Psaila, lost her life this morning after losing consciousness in the water when taking part in a charity dive.
The dive was organised by the Atlam Subaqua Club in Qawra. Ms Psaila was rushed to hospital by ambulance but died following a medical intervention.
This was the 11th time that the activity, which was collecting funds for the Dar tal-Providenza was organised. The event was stopped after the woman was taken to hospital and people who had already gave their contribution were offered reimbursement.
In a statement, Atlam said that the dives were manned by qualified instructors and accompanied by qualified divers.
Participants completed a medical questionnaire and any medical matters that required further clarification were addressed to the medical team made up of three practitioners and a nurse.
By 11.30 a.m., 75 persons had dived. The participant brought up from the water unconscious had been doing a taster dive. Efforts were made to revive her and the ambulance was called.
Atlam Sub Aqua Club expressed its solidarity with all family members."
That 24 year old is one of my best friends, Tamara, or floydianwings as she is known on DA, and she's gone. We never got to say goodbye, or tell her one last time how much we love her.
A phone call in the middle of the afternoon. My jokester friend tells me there is no easy way to say it: Tamara is dead. My heart stops but my mind urges me to tell him to stop joking like that cos it's not funny. But I know that he would never joke like that about someone so special. I know that the world will never be the same again because I can feel it crack like damaged glass. It's so surreal, thinking that she's not with us anymore ... I can't take it.
I cried and I cried. Then I ran to the hospital to see Chris who had called me because he is there. He cannot believe it either so he wants to see her. I said I'd go with him, but I don't want to see her like that. Someone so caring and warm shouldn't be on a cold metallic slab. But maybe like Chris I need to see with my own eyes. Even if I then pluck them out, at least I can believe. But they won't let me in because I don't work there and Chris does. Orders of the police.
It's a few hours later and I am still a mess, but I keep telling myself that she had a hard life yet she was always smiling and caring for others, so the best way to honour her memory is to take up her example and focus on the good nine years we shared. But my mind keeps telling me that each of these good times is in the past, and it hurts so bad ... Then, one of my friends posts her DA account link and I visit it for the first time in over a year. My eye is drawn to one photo in her gallery, besides the one of herself, which breaks up another piece of my heart. But nothing prepares me for this
[link] That is me in the photo. As she said in her description, she never asked my permission to upload it. Furthermore, I remember that say but not her taking my photo. I am stunned ... She did a nice job, and I never got to tell her that. My heart's dying, and I wish it would just croak for good because I am already so tired of this pain. God how we miss her...