Recognition Certificates Awarded to Personnel Involved in V. Atoll Rescue Operation Following Diving Tragedy

Certificates of appreciation were presented on behalf of President Mohamed Muizzu at a ceremony held at Bandaara Koshi, honouring officers involved in the extensive search and recovery mission following the diving tragedy last month. 

Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan and Minister of Defence and National Service Hassan Rasheed attended the ceremony on behalf of the President. Senior officials, including Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed and Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, were also present.

advertisement

The operation involved personnel from the Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard, the Maldives Police Service, and specialist Finnish deep-diving experts deployed by the Italian government. The joint effort was conducted in difficult underwater conditions to locate and recover five divers who had gone missing during the cave-diving expedition. 

All missing individuals were recovered following coordinated deep-sea search operations a week after the incident, according to authorities. 

The incident had drawn both local and international attention following the death of MNDF diver Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee during the rescue mission. Authorities have said he died from decompression illness. 

Although the authorities had said that the MNDF diver died due to decompression illness, an official post-mortem was not conducted to confirm the claims. The public had criticised both the MNDF and the government for failing to ensure the safety of the diver before the operation, as well as their failure to conduct a post-mortem after he had died.