Italy to Award Highest Bravery Honour to Mahudhee for Fatal Cave Rescue Mission

The Italian government has decided to confer its highest honour for bravery on Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee, the Maldivian military officer who lost his life during the search and rescue mission for Italian tourists who went missing in an underwater cave.

Mahudhee has been chosen to receive the “Gold Medal for Civil Valour” (Medaglia d’Oro al Valor Civile). This is the highest honour bestowed by the Government of Italy in recognition of exceptional acts of courage.

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In a social media post, the Italian Embassy in Colombo stated that the posthumous award was decided in honour of Mahudhee’s extraordinary bravery and his dedication to humanity during the operation to rescue the four Italian divers. 

The tragedy occurred off V. Alimathaa, where four Italian tourists and their safari instructor went missing while exploring a cave formation located at depths exceeding 58 metres.

Mahudhee, an active Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) diver, suffered severe decompression sickness during the descent. Although military authorities stated that he passed away while receiving emergency medical care at ADK Hospital in Malé, questions have persisted over whether he had already succumbed before reaching the facility.

The recovery operation was subsequently suspended until a team of three specialised cave divers from Finland was deployed to the Maldives, successfully retrieving the bodies of the deceased Italian divers alongside local authorities.

The announcement of the Italian civil honour comes against a backdrop of public scrutiny and official silence regarding the circumstances of Mahdhee’s death.

Following public allegations of administrative negligence, the Maldives Police Service confirmed on 20 May 2026 that it had launched a procedural inquiry into the events of the May 16 operation. Police representatives stated at the time that the inquiry was initiated proactively in accordance with standard protocols governing fatal occurrences.

However, law enforcement authorities and the MNDF have since declined to provide investigative updates or respond to media queries regarding the progress of the probe.

Questions over operational preparedness were previously acknowledged on state television by MNDF Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem, who conceded that the military had undertaken the deep recovery mission without adequate specialized equipment, exposing military personnel to critical peril.

The Italian Embassy in Colombo and Italy’s Honorary Consular Agency in Malé have also launched a fundraising drive to provide financial assistance to Mahudhee’s family.

Donations have now been opened to the public, with contributions accepted through a designated bank account. The funds are being collected via an account registered under the “Mahudhee Memorial Fund” at the Maldives Islamic Bank, with the Embassy stating that the fundraising campaign will run through the end of this year.