After recovering from trauma surgery due to a serious car accident in California on Aug. 25, U.S. Ambassador to Malta Douglas Kmiec returned to Malta on Monday evening.

The single-car crash took place in the coastal canyons of southern California, Malta Media News reports.

Kmiec was traveling with retired pastor Msgr. John Sheridan, 94, and Sr. Mary Campbell, 74. Sr.Campbell died at the scene while Msgr. Sheridan died Sept. 17 from heart failure.

Kmiec returned to Malta to resume his duties. He thanked all Maltese for their kind words and prayers.

While under the care of medical experts, he said, he was also “emotionally and spiritually renewed by the compassion and prayers of the people of Malta who know well from their tradition of profound faith that, in this life, much lies beyond our understanding.”

He will require another surgery, Malta Media News says.