Police begin investigating death of MNDF diver Mahudhy during Vaavu cave‑search operation

Police have launched an investigation into the death of MNDF Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahudhy, who died during the operation to locate four missing Italian tourists who went cave diving in Vaavu Atoll last Thursday.

Police said they are thoroughly examining the circumstances surrounding Mahudhy’s death.

Government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) told the BBC that eight MNDF divers were deployed for the search. When the team resurfaced, they realised Mahudhy was missing.

Other divers immediately re‑entered the water to search for him. Mahudhy was found unconscious, according to the spokesperson.

He was transported to Male' on Thursday afternoon due to the lack of decompression chambers in the country, and taken to ADK Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The operation was launched to search for:

• Monica Montefalcone, a marine biology professor affiliated with the University of Genoa  

• Her daughter Giorgia Sommacal  

• Marine biologist Federico Gualtieri  

• Researcher Muriel Oddenino  

• Diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti

All five died inside the underwater cave near V. Alimatha. Their bodies were recovered from the sea, with the final two recovered on Wednesday.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani extended condolences to the Maldivian government.

Minister Tajani said: “These days of grief for Italy are exacerbated by the news that one of your brave military, Sergeant Major Mohammed Mahdi, has died while attempting to recover the bodies of our fellow Italians".