A tourist has drowned in the Maldives in the third fatal accident involving European tourists in as many weeks.
A 53-year-old Spanish man reportedly died today after abandoning a boat trip to idyllic islands to catch the waves.
He was surfing off Vaadhu Island in the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll in the south of the archipelago when the tragedy occurred.
When he was found, the tourist was taken to a local clinic – but could not be saved.
He was declared dead on arrival, police said, confirming that an investigation into the tragedy has been launched.
The tragic accident comes after a newlywed husband was killed by a shark while honeymooning in the islands in April.
tragic cave discovery
Divers find bodies of missing tourists in Maldives’ ‘Shark Cave’
painful recovery
Newlywed husband killed by shark on honeymoon opens up about attack
Borja GarcÃa Sousa, 31, suffered massive blood loss when his “flesh was stripped” after the predator attacked his leg while swimming.
He left fighting for his life What should have been a dream vacation.
Borja’s near-death experience cost him his leg, when a shark tore a large amount of flesh from his limb.
He had to be airlifted and admitted to the intensive care unit at ADK Hospital in the Maldivian capital Male after the brutal attack.
His leg had to be amputated, and Borja paid tribute to his beloved wife, saying: “If there’s one thing I’m sure of after all this, it’s that there was no better person to go through that storm.”
Today, the bodies of four Italian tourists and their guide who were missing after a diving accident last week were found in a cave.
The first body was recovered soon after the accident on Thursday.
An expert team launches a dangerous mission to locate the remaining divers in the “Shark Cave” this morning – After local search efforts were hampered by bad weather.
A group of five Italian scuba divers on a university research trip went missing while exploring a cave at a depth of about 160 feet on Thursday morning.
The group – along with Gianluca Benedetti, who was found the same day the group went missing – was located inside Thinwana Kandu Cave, also known as the “Shark Cave”.
The four missing holidaymakers were Monica Montefalcon, her daughter Giorgia Somacal, Muriel Odenino and Federico Gualtieri.
Their bodies have been found but a recovery mission will be carried out next A few days.
Maldives Government Spokesperson told the BBC: “More dives will be conducted in the coming days to recover the bodies.”
He also said that special equipment for recovery was being provided by the UK and Australia – which could be used with underwater scooters and gas tanks that could recycle air.
Each attempt to dive and retrieve the bodies lasts about three hours – and is immediately aborted if any obstacles arise.
