HYDERABAD, May 17 (Bernama) -- The Maldives plunged into grief after a military diver lost his life on Saturday while searching for the bodies of Italian tourists who died in an underwater cave during a scuba diving excursion on Thursday.
Mohamed Mahudhee, 44, a staff sergeant with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), became ill during the high-risk underwater search operation and passed away at a hospital, according to Maldivian media reports and officials.
Mahudhee, who is believed to have suffered decompression sickness, was one of the eight divers who took part in the search on Saturday.
Maldivian authorities suspended the operation following his death.
There was an outpouring of grief over the serviceman's passing, with many paying tribute to his courage and sacrifice.
President Mohamed Muizzu called the death heartbreaking and unsettling, saying that the tragedy is deeply felt by every Maldivian.
The president attended Mahudhee's funeral on Saturday night.
Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla expressed sorrow and offered condolences to the diver's family.
Maldives Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam on Saturday met the Italian ambassador to the Maldives, Damiano Francovigh, who is resident in Colombo, to discuss the ongoing search for the missing Italians.
The ambassador conveyed to her Italy's condolences over the MNDF diver's death.
The Saudi Embassy in the Maldives extended its condolences to the Maldives government, MNDF, and the staff sergeant's family.
"His courage and sacrifice will always be remembered with honour and respect. May Almighty Allah grant him mercy, accept him among the martyrs, and bless his family with patience and strength," it said in a post on X.
Five Italian tourists died on May 14 while exploring a cave at a depth of 50 metres in Vaavu Atoll whereas Maldivian regulations limit recreational diving to a depth of up to 30 metres.
The group included a diving instructor whose body has been found. The Maldives Tourism Ministry has cancelled the licence of the tourist vessel "MV Duke of York" on which the Italians had travelled to Vaavu Atoll.
"All necessary action will be taken to ensure full accountability, and tourism businesses and service providers will continue to be held to the standards required of them," the Tourism Ministry and Civil Aviation said in a statement on Saturday.
Maldivian military divers are trained to dive to depths of only 50 metres at present, but their skills are being upgraded to allow them to reach depths of up to 100 metres, Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem told state broadcaster PSM News.
"The second phase of this operational training is scheduled to commence this month. We are actively working to ensure the required personnel are fully trained prior to the close of the year," he said.
-- BERNAMA
