New details have emerged about the deaths of a British couple following a scuba diving incident in the Maldives, after a UK coroner opened an inquest into the case.
Elaine Richmond, 70, died during a recreational dive near Ellaidhoo Island on 19 December. Her husband, Malcolm Richmond, 71, died in hospital in Malé five days later.
Opening the inquest at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court, Assistant Coroner Matthew Kewley told the hearing that Mrs Richmond encountered difficulties during the dive and failed to surface.
‘On this particular day, they had carried out a dive when the sea conditions deteriorated, which unfortunately led to Mrs Richmond being pulled away in a strong current,’ Mr Kewley told the court.
‘Her husband immediately raised the alarm and sought assistance, and a search was commenced, but sadly the body of Mrs Richmond was then recovered from the water.
‘The hospital in the Maldives had given the cause of death as drowning and asphyxiation,’ said Kewley.
The court heard that Mr Richmond remained in the Maldives following his wife’s death, but became unwell while waiting at Malé International Airport for his flight back to the UK on 21 December
He was found to be heavily intoxicated and was taken to hospital where his condition deteriorated and he died on 24 December.
Medical records provided to the court listed acute alcohol intoxication, multi-organ dysfunction and cardiac arrest among the causes of Mr Richmond’s death.
The couple, from Inkersall in Derbyshire, were described during the hearing as experienced recreational divers who had travelled regularly to the Maldives over many years.
Assistant Coroner Kewley told the court that there were no suspicious circumstances identified in either death. The inquest was adjourned to a later date while further documentation is sought from Maldivian authorities.
