The Somali man relayed the tragic moment that changed his life forever, admitting that he can only explain what he has been told about the incident since his memory from that time is scarce.

Mohamed, who arrived in Malta 10 years ago and was awarded subsidiary protection, was working on a construction site in Pembroke in March 2019.

He was working for a company that he had been employed by since 2017 and, while on-site, an operational machine got blocked.

As he went to clear the blockage, while suited in his protective gear, he was hit in the head by a rock leading to him hitting his head on the chain of the machine and sustaining serious injuries.

He then spent a month in the ITU in a coma.

Upon waking in a hospital bed, he was completely confused, asking his friend what had happened.

His friend told Mohamed that he was badly injured at work to which he replied “No, I was at work just yesterday”.

Mohamed emerged from the coma with part of his skull missing, and it’s been like that ever since. This means that a significant portion of his brain is just protected by skin, making him very vulnerable to serious injury in the area.

The police report of the incident seen by Lovin Malta states that the director of the construction company went on site quickly after being informed of the incident and found the victim waiting in the first aid room until the ambulance arrived on site.

Mohamed also claimed that when he tried to get a copy of the police report, the authorities refused to give it to him until his lawyer intervened.

The police told Lovin Malta that this was because, at the time, the magisterial inquiry had not yet been concluded. So, a copy of the report could not be given since this would include data pertinent to the inquiry – this is normal procedure, the authorities said.

The inquiry has since been concluded.

An official from the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) also reported to the scene and stated that the site was declared safe from their end. A stop order was also put in place.

They also conducted their own investigation into the matter.

A year following the incident, Mohamed was also given compensation from the government and the employer – he was paid a year’s salary; 50% from the state, and the remaining amount from the contracting company.

Mohamed further admitted that the construction company “otherwise, treated him well” saying that they checked up on him and offered him a job a year later. However, around four or five months after returning to work, he was let go and believes he was fired due to his injury.

This incident turned his life upside down.

He has been unable to work for around four years, and his dizziness, memory loss, pain, and susceptibility to serious injury have come in the way of him finding another job.

He now lives off the generosity of his friends.

Because of this, he wanted to take the matter to court and get more compensation for his injuries, however he encountered some obstacles.

Mohamed was told by his lawyer – who was informed by the company’s legal representatives – that he needed to provide a medical certificate detailing his injuries. S, his lawyer drafted up a letter requesting such a certificate from Mater Dei.

However, this is how the hospital responded:

“Further to your letter dated today, the 4th of June, and following discussion with Dr Jones*, we deem it likely that the above-mentioned [Mohamed] does not suffer from permanent disability (despite that formal assessment and certification of permanent disability does not take place within our institution).”

“He will however be at increased risk of seizures for coming years. Moreover, he has a partial craniectomy defect and would be at risk of severe injury in case he were to sustain cranial trauma (that is, his brain is not well protected by overlying bone).”

The lawyer claimed that this letter was not adequate enough to take this issue to court and that he needed a certificate from his doctor/s.

For the last three years, Mohamed has had no source of income.

He stated that he hasn’t applied for disability benefits because he lacks formal certification of his injuries.

When asked about the safety of the construction industry in Malta, Mohamed admitted that it is not safe.

“I had to work, and I did so legally. I worked, I paid taxes, but it was not safe. I do not recommend it.”

Mohamed is a Somali man who speaks minimal English and adequate Maltese – it has been very hard for him to deal with this case.

Being left without work and dealing with the effects of his injury has made him feel “helpless, lonely, and disabled”. And so he appealed to the newsroom for help. Mohamed wants to share his story in the hopes that it reaches the right people who would give him advice on what to do next.

Lovin Malta is currently waiting on responses from the Health Ministry and Mater Dei.

UPDATE: 

The Health Ministry responded to Lovin Malta’s questions:

“The remit of Mater Dei is to provide acute care to patients.”

“MDH issues a discharge letter to all patients admitted to the hospital and the correspondence you have forwarded also shows that Mater Dei consultants replied to the lawyer you are referring to on the subject.”