An elite team of Finnish divers on Tuesday recovered the bodies of two of the five Italian tourists who died in a shark-infested underwater cave in the Maldives — as prosecutors launched a culpable-homicide investigation.
The remains of University of Genoa ecology teacher Monica Montefalcone, 52, and researcher Federico Gualtieri, 31, were recovered from around 200 feet, sources told Italy’s ANSA news agency.
Three Finnish divers found the four tourists Monday inside the cave’s third segment, which officials say is the largest part.
Divers have now recovered two of the four missing Italians who vanished on a scuba dive. Maldives President Media Division via APThe recovery mission continues for Montefalcone’s daughter, Giorgia Sommacal, 20, and Muriel Oddenino, 31, with the expert dive team hoping to be able to recover the final bodies on Wednesday.
The elite squad was assembled in 48 hours by the group Divers Alert Network Europe.
The Divers’ Alert Network Europe, which deployed the three Finnish divers, said on its website that they are technical and cave divers with international experience in search and recovery missions, including operations in “deep overhead environments, confined spaces and high-risk scenarios.”
Monica Montefalcone, an Italian tourist who died during a dive in the Maldives, smiling in a wetsuit on a boat. ZUMAPRESS.com
Muriel Oddenino, one of five Italian nationals who died while scuba diving in the Maldives. Muriel Oddenino / FacebookThe team used advanced technical systems, including closed-circuit rebreathers, a system that recycles exhaled breathing gas and removes carbon dioxide through a chemical scrubber, allowing for “significantly longer dives,” the organization said.
There was a race against time to find the bodies – before they were consumed by sharks.
“We’ll bring [the victims’ bodies] back. We can’t leave them at the mercy of the sharks. We need experts here,” DAN Europe CEO Laura Marroni told Italian newspaper La Stampa last week.
Giorgia Sommacal, Montefalcone’s daughter, died during the scuba dive. Giorgia Sommacal / Instagram
Federico Gualtieri was also missing following the dive. ZUMAPRESS.comThe body of diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti, 44, was recovered on Friday near the entrance to the same cave.
Meanwhile, Rome prosecutors have launched a culpable homicide probe into the deaths.
Autopsies will be performed when the bodies arrive back in Italy, sources told ANSA.
The tourists were on the Duke of York boat with another 20 Italians before they jumped into the water – and they are set to be quizzed by investigators.
With Post wires
