Couple died after scuba diving accident in Maldives

An experienced diver drowned in a scuba accident in the Maldives before her husband died five days later after falling ill, an inquest has heard.

Elaine Richmond, 70, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, died after being pulled into a "strong current" on 19 December 2025 off the island resort of Ellaidhoo, Chesterfield Coroner's Court heard.

Her husband Malcolm - who died five days later after falling ill at Male airport - was in the water and raised the alarm but her body was found a short time later, the inquest into their deaths, which opened on Friday, heard.

Coroner Matthew Kewley said further inquiries were to be made with Maldivian authorities, with a full inquest to be heard at a later date.

The inquest opening heard Mr Richmond, 71, was admitted to hospital 21 December after his health deteriorated in the airport while waiting for a flight home.

The coroner said he was drinking alcohol and suffered a cardiac arrest. He died three days later in a hospital in the capital of Male.

The retired miner's cause of death was given as acute alcohol intoxication, which led to a cardiac arrest.

Kewley said: "The report suggested that Elaine Richmond and her husband were professional divers. I think they mean experienced divers, it's not suggested they were working as divers.

"It is understood they visited the Maldives on many previous occasions.

"On this particular day, they had carried out a dive when the sea conditions deteriorated, which unfortunately led to Mrs Richmond being pulled away in a strong current.

"Her husband immediately raised the alarm and sought assistance and a search was commenced, but sadly the body of Mrs Richmond was then recovered from the water.

"The hospital in the Maldives had given the cause of death as drowning and asphyxiation."

Opening the inquest into her husband's death, the coroner said: "Hospital staff in the Maldives called the Maldives police department to say a British national had passed away.

"It's understood that Mr Richmond had been admitted to hospital on 21 December after his health had deteriorated whilst he was at the airport waiting to leave the Maldives.

"It was reported that he was heavily intoxicated at the airport."

Both of their deaths were reported to the coroner on 6 January after the couple's bodies were repatriated to the UK.

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