In the Maldives, a rescuer dies while searching for the bodies of four Italian divers

A rescue diver from the Maldives who was participating in the search for the bodies of four Italians who died in the deadliest diving accident in the archipelago has died, authorities announced on Saturday May 16. Five Italians did not return from their dive on Thursday, but only one body was recovered the same day.

“Master Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhy was taken to hospital in a critical condition after resurfacing during search operations, but later died while receiving treatment”announced the Maldivian army. The search continued on Saturday, for the third day in a row, despite bad weather conditions.

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday evening the death of five of its nationals. They are a professor of marine biology, her daughter, and two young researchers, said the University of Genoa, where all four of them studied or worked. The fifth victim is their diving instructor.

Diving beyond the authorized limit

The group was conducting a deep cave dive on Vaavu Atoll, located 90 minutes by speedboat from the capital, Malé. The only recovered body was found in a cave at a depth of 60 meters.

Chief government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef announced an investigation into why the group had dived beyond the permitted depth of 30 meters. Authorities suspended the operating license of the cruise ship on which the victims were staying, pending the results of the investigation.

This 36 meter luxury boat, which can accommodate 25 passengers and on which the twenty Italian tourists who accompanied the divers remained, “just reached” Malé, said the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.