[1] On the morning of 7 July 2008, Simshar departed the coast of Marsaxlokk, a small, traditional fishing village in the South Eastern Region of Malta on a fishing trip, expected to return on 11 July.
It is believed that a blast[2] took place on board the vessel on 11 July, destroying the boat.
[3] Four of the five people on board the Simshar died in the days following the incident, Simon Bugeja being the sole survivor.
[1] Following an extensive search by the Armed Forces of Malta, and the Maltese fishing community, a fishing vessel called the Grecale found Simon Bugeja alive on 18 July.
[1] The incident was dramatised by Maltese director Rebecca Cremona through a 2014 film titled Simshar.