Elderly man dies after boat fire
The Ravaanaa boat caught fire near the Filitheyo resort.
18 Feb 2019, 09:00
A 62-year-old man on a boat that caught fire en route from Malé to Vaanee in Dhaalu atoll died Monday morning.
Mohamed Ahmed, from the Kibidhooge house in Fuvahmulah, died after he was taken on a sea ambulance to the Faafu atoll hospital on Nilandhoo, police said.
According to media reports, he is believed to have died of suffocation or shock as there were no burns on his body.
The Maldives National Defence Force coastguard was alerted around 4:45am after the Ravaanaa boat caught fire near the Filitheyo resort in Faafu atoll.
There were seven Maldivians and nine foreigners on the Fuvahmulah cargo boat, all of whom jumped overboard when the fire broke out.
They were rescued by a boat that spotted the fire. Apart from the elderly man whose condition was serious, the other 15 people were taken on a sea ambulance to a different island.
The Ravaanaa boat was completely destroyed when the fire was put out by firefighters on a coastguard vessel.
Photo from MNDF
Discussion
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
No comments yet. Be the first to join the conversation!
Join the Conversation
Sign in to share your thoughts under an alias and take part in the discussion. Independent journalism thrives on open, respectful debate — your voice matters.
Support Independent Journalism
Help us keep the news free and fearless
Give once
$
or
Become a memberfrom $5/month
