Czech tourist found dead in Paradise Resort lagoon

An 84-year-old man from the Czech Republic who was staying at the Paradise Resort was found dead in the island lagoon Saturday afternoon.

The suspected drowning was reported to police around 3:15pm, police informed the media, after which the body was brought to the ADK hospital in the nearby capital island of Malé.

It was the fourth death of a tourist by drowning this year.

A 66-year-old South Korean tourist who was also staying at the Paradise resort drowned last Wednesday while snorkelling. Earlier in the week, a couple from the Philippines drowned while swimming near the Dhiffushi island in Kaafu atoll.

The 29-year-old wife and 30-year-old husband had been in the Maldives for their honeymoon. They were staying at a guesthouse on the local island.

The bodies were repatriated to the Philippines on Saturday.

The drowning incidents prompted the tourism ministry to launch inspections and review regulations. Discussions are taking place with island councils to designate safe swimming areas.

Unlike resort islands, tourists who stay at guesthouses on local islands are often unaccompanied when they go swimming or snorkelling.