A man from the UK passed away shortly after his wife died in a scuba diving incident while they were vacationing, according to an official inquiry. Malcolm Richmond, aged 71, was in the Maldives with his wife Elaine, 70, when she was swept away by a strong current on December 19 last year. The inquest revealed that Malcolm died five days later at the airport as he was preparing to return home.
Malcolm, a retired miner from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was found to have been heavily intoxicated at the time of his death, as stated in the inquiry report. His cause of death was determined to be acute alcohol intoxication, multi-organ dysfunction, and cardiac arrest.
Regarding Elaine’s passing, assistant coroner Matthew Kewley explained that she had been taken to the hospital following a scuba diving incident. The couple, known for their diving experience, had been on numerous trips to the Maldives in the past. Unfortunately, on this occasion, Mrs. Richmond was caught in a strong current and drowned despite her husband’s efforts to seek help.
Malcolm’s health deteriorated while waiting at the airport, leading to his admission to the hospital on December 21. The inquest mentioned that he was also under the influence of alcohol during this time. Hospital staff in the Maldives reported his death to the authorities on December 24.
Following the couple’s repatriation to the UK, both deaths were referred to a coroner on January 6. A comprehensive inquiry is scheduled to be conducted at a later date, pending further collaboration with authorities in the Maldives.
