Two British nationals have drowned in the idyllic Maldives in the space of just two days, according to reports in local media outlets. A 46-year-old man died while swimming off the atoll of Rasdhoo just after 9am yesterday.
The unnamed diver drowned at Hammerhead Shark Point, having been taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A second Briton aged 65 died in similar circumstances off Rashoo earlier this week, likewise being pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Advice carried on the website of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says: “Most visits to Maldives are trouble-free.
“The most common problems faced by visiting British nationals are lost and stolen passports, and swimming and diving related accidents.”
“The sea around the Maldives can have strong tidal currents and a number of tourists drown every year. You should always take local advice before entering the sea.”
The Rasdhoo Atoll is known for its huge schools of fish, which in turn attract large numbers of hammerhead sharks to prey on them.
Hammerhead sharks dwell at a depth of roughly 60 metres, with divers needing advanced training in order to see them.
They are generally harmless to humans, with just 17 unprovoked attacks on record.
Six years ago, 30-year-old Andrew Roddy, from Dublin, similarly drowned in the Maldives while swimming with dolphins with his wife during their honeymoon, while Sharon Duval also died in 2011.
The Maldives is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean famed for its warm weather and beautiful beaches.
It is populated with luxury hotels which attract tourists all year round.
Express.co.uk has contacted the FCDO for more information.
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