Autopsy Finds Italian Divers Died After Running Out of Oxygen

Preliminary autopsy findings have revealed that two of the five Italian divers who died while cave diving in Vaavu Atoll died after running out of oxygen or being deprived of oxygen underwater.

The incident occurred on May 14 inside an underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll.

According to Italian media reports, temporary autopsy results have so far been released for two of the four divers examined — Professor Monica Montefalcone, 51, of the University of Genoa, and her 20-year-old daughter Giorgia Sommacal. The autopsies, conducted by a forensic doctor appointed by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office, concluded that the two died after their oxygen tanks emptied or due to lack of oxygen, which ultimately caused them to drown.

Authorities in Rome are investigating the case as a possible case of negligent homicide. As part of the investigation, prosecutors in Rome have sent a request to Maldivian authorities seeking all documents related to the case, including technical diving equipment used by the divers and GoPro footage recovered from the cave.

Of the five people who died in the incident, one body was recovered on the day of the accident, while the remaining four bodies were retrieved last week with assistance from an experienced Finnish rescue team. The four bodies were later transported to Italy last Saturday.

Authorities have now granted permission for the bodies to be handed over to their families.

Italian media reports state that the final autopsy reports and complete findings are expected within the next three months. Investigators hope the findings will provide a clearer understanding of what caused the tragic diving accident.