Underwater Recovery Mission Turns Deadly After Maldivian Diver Dies Retrieving Italian Divers’ Bodies

A Maldivian Coast Guard diver, identified as Sergeant Major Mohamed Mahudhee, died during a recovery mission for five Italian divers.

Five Italian nationals died in the Vaavu Atoll region of the Maldives on Thursday while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres, the Italian foreign ministry reported.

According to Maldives Presidential Spokesman Mohammed Hussain Shareef, cited by NBC News, Mahudhee died of underwater decompression sickness on Saturday and was later rushed to the hospital.

"The death goes to show the difficulty of the mission," he stated.

Mahudhee was among the officials who briefed the rescue plan to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.

Before resuming the search operation on Saturday, the Italian foreign ministry, in a statement shared on Friday, May 15, stated that "the present weather conditions may prevent the commencement of recovery operations."

"However, an initial dive aimed at exploring the access points of the cave is expected to be carried out, pending an improvement in weather conditions," they added.

On Thursday morning, a group of five set out on the underwater cave-diving expedition, traveling aboard the yacht Duke of York.

According to the Maldivian government cited by the outlet, the victims were identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa, and her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, biologist Federico Gualtieri, researcher Muriel Oddenino, and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.

Benedetti's body was later found at 6:13 p.m. local time.

"The body was found in a cave about 196 feet deep," the MNDF stated. "The remaining four divers are believed to have been inside the cave, which is about 200 feet long. Additional divers and special equipment have been sent to the area, as this is a very dangerous high-risk operation."

Following the incident, the Università di Genova expressed its "deepest condolences" in an X post, writing:

"The University of Genoa expresses its deepest condolences for the sudden and tragic passing of Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, Muriel Oddenino, and Federico Gualtieri."

Meanwhile, addressing the incident, the Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis stated, "Genoa joins in mourning and solidarity, and extends its deepest sympathies to the families of all the victims involved, their friends, colleagues, students, and all the people who shared their studies and lives with them."

Although the cause of the divers' deaths is yet to be released, Montefalcone’s husband, Carlo Sommacal, expressed doubt that "something must have happened down," claiming, "The only certainty I have is that my wife is among the best divers on the face of the earth. And that she’s always been conscientious. Never would she have endangered the life of our daughter."

"Maybe one went into trouble, maybe the oxygen cylinders, I have no idea. But I’m ready to swear anything about Monica’s behavior," he added, adding that his wife "had two lives – one on land and one in her environment, the water."