Two Maltese stunt performers – Matthew Camilleri and Peppijna Dalli – slept peacefully through an evening spent in suspension above a killer drop on Siggiewi’s Xaqqa Cliffs.
“If you’re not scared, you’re stupid. Saftey is always of the utmost importance,” Camilleri told Lovin Malta, “There is always an element of risk”.
Dalli and Camilleri – who both gave stunt performances in Jurassic World – spent a night suspended above a huge chasm on a portaledge.
A portaledge – or portable ledge – is a deployable hanging tent system used by rock climbers to spend multiple days and nights on a big wall climb, to get some rest before continuing their ascent.
In this case, given that the daring pair started their climb with a descent and then set up their temporary dwelling, it seems that the allure had less to do with resting up during a long climb – than it was motivated by taking on the challenge of setting up camp, cooking a meal and then spending a night suspended above crashing waves below.
Camilleri told Lovin Malta that he’s been climbing for around 12 years – with a special focus on stunt rigging.
Malta’s specific geology offers a pretty wide range of different climbing opportunities – so much so that it has been ranked as the best spot for rock climbing holidays.
“There are multiple sport climbing routes all around Malta and Gozo” said Camilleri.
Considering the 180 degree horizon views Maltese climbers are guaranteed from almost any coastal spot – it isn’t surprising that those with the gumption to suspend themselves above dozens of metres of nothingness might choose to spend the night in such a position, only to wake up to an incredible view and the sun’s warming rays on their face.
“We’ve got over 1300 bolted routes – which means there are climbing grades for everyone who’s interested. And we’ve got great weather to compliment it.”
When asked if Malta’s flaky limestone rock faces could pose a problem for climbers, his response was measured with years of climbing experience.
“Closer to the coastline there are routes which are certainly more flaky, so experience and caution are required even when climbing professionally bolted routes.”
Though Camilleri encourages anyone interested to learn to climb, he added the perspective of someone who loves making the most of the great outdoors, “be as well informed as you can be – and please do not litter”.
Beyond rock climbing, Camilleri is an avid scuba-diver, snowboarder, mountaineer and mixed martial artists – when he isn’t preparing for his next blockbuster stunt role.
Camilleri has appeared in several exciting movies and TV shows, and will soon appear as an actor playing a character named Farrell in The Silent Hour – an upcoming blockbuster which will also star Mark Strong and Joel Kinnaman.
The Silent Hour follows the story of a hearing impaired detective working as an interpreter – who confronts a team of corrupt cops seeking to dispose of a deaf murder witness.
Keep your ears open for this movie, we know we will.
Though his instagram page appears full of death defying stunts, all of which had “an element of risk” behind them. He has been appointed by Morgan Chetcuti – founder of
Phantom Stunts – for multiple assistant stunt coordinator roles.
This means that Camilleri is in the business of assessing risk to “ensure the highest level of safety for performers and crew on set”.
With this level of caution and risk assessment, he and his partner have intentionally “crashed cars, jetskis and boats” as well as having “had dinner dates on fire”.
To the untrained eye a portaledge may appear dangerous. Indeed, to be safe they have to be set up properly by people who know how to use them.
Once this has been done, those resting aboard are unlikely to roll or fall off, as there is no moment spent on one during which climbers remove their harness.
Even with this assurance of safety, I think I’ll leave it to the pros.
Tag someone who should spend a night on a portaledge
Pawlu is a journalist interested in Race, Environmental Issues, Music, Migration and Skate Culture. Pawlu loves to swim everyday and believes that cars are an inadequate solution to our earthly woes. You can get in touch at
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