The bodies of four Italian scuba divers who went missing last week in the Maldives have finally been found. But the recovery mission came at a terrible cost.
Five Italians died while exploring underwater caves in the Vaavu Atoll on Thursday. One body was found at the entrance of the cave system that very same day. The other four remained trapped deep inside a maze of water tunnels.
An international search team was assembled. Experts from Finland, the UK, and Australia joined Maldivian forces to locate the remaining bodies.
Then tragedy struck again.
Senior military diver Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee, 43, died on Saturday during a second attempt to retrieve the bodies. He was one of the most experienced divers in the force.
“He was one of the most senior divers, which shows just how challenging this dive is,” a government spokesperson said.
The cave system is 70 meters deep at its lowest point — about the height of a 20-story building — and stretches 200 meters long.
The four missing victims have now been identified. They are Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology; her daughter Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; and researcher Muriel Oddenino. A sixth diver chose not to join them and survived.
A total of 20 Italians remained on board the diving boat, the Duke of York. They received psychological first aid from the Red Crescent.
The recovery operation resumed on Monday after a temporary suspension. Authorities say more dives will be carried out in the coming days.
The internet is mourning. One person wrote: “This is devastating. A mother and daughter gone together.” Another said: “The diver who died trying to save them is a hero.”
Someone else added: “These caves are beautiful but deadly. Deepest condolences to all the families.”
