Maldives Rescuer Dies in 50m Cave Search for 5 Italian Divers

5 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 16

Staff Sgt Mohamed Mahdhee died after blacking out during a high-risk military search in Vaavu Atoll for four unrecovered Italian divers who drowned in an underwater cave accident.
Eight rescue divers entered the water on Saturday; when Mahdhee failed to surface, colleagues went back down, found him unconscious and rushed him to hospital, where he later died.
The Italians had entered the water on Thursday to explore caves at about 50m depth, beyond the Maldives' 30m recreational diving limit; one body has been recovered from around 60m.
Rough weather about 100km south of Male complicated the operation, prompting a yellow warning for boats, while President Mohamed Muizzu traveled to the atoll to observe the search.
The five dead Italians included four members of a University of Genoa team, and officials say the accident appears to be the Maldives' worst single diving disaster.

Beyond the divers' choices, who is accountable for the Maldives' worst diving disaster?

Why did five divers ignore safety warnings for a dive that would claim six lives?

After a rescuer’s death, is it too dangerous to recover the four bodies left behind?