The toll of the Maldives scuba tragedy increased after authorities confirmed that a Maldivian diver searching for the bodies of five Italian tourists also died. Sergeant Major Mohamed Mahudhee became ill during the third day of recovery operations in Vaavu Atoll, according to The Sun, which translated a post by the Maldivian military on X.
Heroic Sacrifice
“His courage, sacrifice, and service to the nation will always be remembered. Our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues,” the military reportedly stated. Mahudhee was one of eight divers deployed to find the bodies of Monica Montefalcone, a marine biology professor at the University of Genoa, and her 20-year-old daughter, Giorgia Sommacal, who vanished during a 160-foot dive into an underwater cave.
Muriel Oddenino of Turin, Gianluca Benedetti of Padua, and Federico Gualtieri of Borgomanero also failed to resurface. Only Benedetti’s body has been recovered, officials said.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the divers’ deaths is still under investigation, though some experts have theorized that oxygen toxicity and sheer panic are possible factors. Oxygen toxicity occurs when too much oxygen becomes dangerous. Humans are built to breathe air containing about 21% oxygen. But when someone breathes oxygen at unusually high concentrations or under intense pressure for too long, it can become toxic to the body, according to UMass Memorial Health. This happens because excess oxygen creates an overload of unstable molecules known as “free radicals.” Normally, the body can neutralize them with antioxidants. But when too many build up too quickly, they begin damaging cells and tissues.
Family's Grief
Montefalcone’s husband, Carlo Sommacal, raised suspicion that “something must have happened down” in the cave, saying his wife was too experienced a diver to have taken risks. “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” or the others with them, he told La Repubblica. “Something must have happened down there,” the retired scientist said. “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.
This tragedy highlights the extreme risks associated with deep cave diving, where even experienced divers can face unforeseen dangers.
