A 72-year-old woman is in danger of loss of life after losing consciousness while swimming in Pretty Bay, Birżebbuġa, the police said today.

The accident happened this morning at 7.45am while the woman, who lives in Birżebbuġa, was having a swim with her sister.

As the sisters were swimming, one of them suddenly lost consciousness. Realising this, her sister desperately tried pulling her back towards the shore while calling out for help.

Hearing her, a number of men rushed to her aid and pulled the victim ashore, where she was administered first aid by a qualified Englishwoman until a medical team arrived on site.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Mater Dei Hospital, where it was established that she was in a critical condition.

The incident is being investigated by the Birżebbuġa Police Station.