The holiday paradise of the Maldives has become the scene of a tragedy: in front of several beach visitors, a young woman was caught and carried away by the sea current on the house reef of the four-star resort Filitheyo Island. There was no more salvation for them.
Employees at the hotel on Faafu Atoll set out with two boats, but were unable to locate the snorkeler in time.
After eventually being found floating far from shore, the woman was taken to a hospital but did not survive, hotel management confirmed to krone.at. It was emphasized that she was not wearing fins and was traveling alone.
Foreign Affairs confirms death
Nationality or age have not been revealed for the time being – according to holidaymakers, the accident victim came from Germany. When asked, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the matter was known. One cannot go into details. The German Embassy in Colombo is available for consular assistance to family members.
Criticism of rescue operations
The resort gave the duration of the rescue operation, which took place around 11 a.m. (local time) last Saturday, as 20 minutes. However, eyewitnesses who raised the alarm after calls for help from the water and observed the action reported that approximately 40 minutes passed between the alarm and the rescue of the suspected drowned people – probably also because the boats were not immediately available and only arrived later. be a good 15 minutes.
The snorkeler, who was apparently wearing a full face mask, was initially visible from the beach for a few minutes but was then very quickly pushed into the sea and eventually disappeared.
Flow zone not indicated
There was also criticism among hotel guests about the lack of signage about the dangerous current zone and the lack of suitable lifeboats. Only two slow-looking tour boats were used for the search.
The hotel manager emphasized that the future victim, like all guests, had been informed upon arrival about the dangers of the currents in the area. The hotel will provide information sheets with warning signs upon arrival.
Moreover, such tragedies are the exception in the Maldives, according to the management: in 2016 there was a similar incident at the resort. Nevertheless, when asked, it was said that security measures would be improved due to the circumstances.
Friend warned her
As krone.at also learned, the deceased woman was also warned about the dangers by her boyfriend. But while he booked a treatment at the spa, she decided to go snorkeling alone.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
