One man has died and three others were injured following a high-speed boat accident between a fishing vessel and Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives speedboat on the evening of April 28.
At approximately 8:00pm a fishing dhoni – from neighbouring island Guraidhoo – entered the resort’s channel and collided with a Kandooma resort recreational speedboat.
The dhoni did not have properly functioning navigation lights, however the speedboat was traveling “very fast”, a source familiar with the incident told Minivan News today (April 29).
“The fishing dhoni was badly damaged and will probably sink, however the speedboat did not appear damaged,” said the source.
During the accident a crew member from the dhoni “fell off the boat and was missing”, police reported.
Two divers and security personnel from Kandooma resort were dispatched following the accident to search for the missing crew member, Ali Abdulla, a 37 year-old from Guraidhoo island in Kaafu Atoll.
The rescue team found Abdulla under water in the Kandooma resort lagoon around 9:15pm, according to police.
“The area is not deep, six or seven meters, however it was very dark. The man was found bleeding from the nose and mouth,” explained the source.
“He also had serious injuries above the neck, behind the head and a small chest injury was also visible.
“The rescue team tried to revive him by performing CPR and giving him oxygen from a scuba cylinder while in transit to Maafushi,” the source added.
Abdulla was taken to the Maafushi Island Health Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Three other individuals sustained injuries, including a hand fracture and other “minor injuries”, said police.
The Maldives marine police are investigating the case.
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives General Manager Chris Batterham expressed the resort’s concern about the incident to Minivan News today.
“The health and safety of our guests, employees, and the community in which we live is of the utmost concern. This is a very tragic accident and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. The resort is assisting the family of the deceased at this difficult time,” said Batterham.
“We are assisting the police with their ongoing investigation and cannot comment further at this time,” he added.
Recent incidents
In February this year an oil tanker and a speedboat on its way to Male’ from One and Only Reethirah Island Resort collided, killing Dhaudh Mohamed, 28, from the island of Kulhudhufushi in Haa Dhaalu Atoll.
According to local newspapers, some of the passengers aboard the speedboat were critically injured and one passenger was reported to have been paralysed.
Newspaper ‘Haveeru’ alleged the captain of the speedboat was asleep when the accident took place. The paper reported that the captain of the speedboat was arrested.
The police reported two separate boat collisions on January 3, 2013, the first of which occurred near the T-Jetty and the second at the airport ferry terminal, both in Male’.
Both collisions involved ferries operated by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), which today announced that it would not be reviewing its current operations, instead favouring increased staff training.
In December 2012, a collision between two speedboats left a Finnish tourist dead and nine other people injured.
The collision occurred between an express speedboat service to the island of Hulhumale’ – which is located near to the capital of Male’ – and another vessel belonging to the Bandos Island Resort and Spa property.
The incident led to the temporary suspension of an express speedboat service between Hulhumale’ and Male’ operated by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).
In November 2012, three passengers were injured in a collision at sea between two speedboats near the island of Fonadhoo, located next to the capital Male’.
According to police, a speedboat en route to Club Rannaalhi Resort from the airport collided with a Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) vessel travelling from Male’ to Hulhumale’ around 10:30pm.
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