The bodies of two Italian divers, missing for three days in the Maldives, have been recovered from an underwater cave. The discovery, confirmed by Maldivian police this morning, ends a desperate search that gripped the archipelago. The divers, identified as Luigi Rossi, 42, and Marco Bianchi, 38, vanished while exploring a submerged cave system near the island of Fuvahmulah.
Rescue teams, supported by Italian naval experts, located the bodies at a depth of 45 metres, trapped in a narrow passage. The cause of death is yet to be determined, but early indications suggest equipment failure. The Foreign Office is in contact with Italian embassies.
Tragic, but not unexpected. These caves are notorious. The brother of one victim told reporters: 'We always knew the risks.
' The recovery comes as a grim closure but raises questions about safety protocols for cave diving in the Maldives.
