Retired Couple Dies 3 Days Apart After ‘Tragic’ Scuba Diving Accident During Christmas Vacation in the Maldives

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• A retired couple from England died during their holiday as a result of a “scuba diving accident” while on holiday in the Maldives.

• Elaine and Malcolm Richmond, aged 70 and 71 respectively, died three days apart, funeral director Simon Hope confirmed.

• As the British newspaper noted Times, For the past 17 years, the couple had spent Christmas on the remote island of Ellaidhoo, which can only be reached by seaplane or boat.

A retired couple from the UK tragically lost their lives in a “scuba diving accident” while on holiday in the Maldives.

Elaine and Malcolm Richmond, 70 and 71, respectively, were enjoying Christmas on the Indian Ocean island of Ellaidhoo, where they have spent the past 17 holiday seasons, according to a UK publication. Times.

According to the funeral home, the couple is thought to have had an “accident” while scuba diving. Stubbins and HopeHe lives in the Derbyshire village where the couple lived.

Funeral director Simon Hope declined to go into details of the accident, but said: Daily Mail Elaine died on December 19th, while her husband passed away three days later on December 22nd.

Hope also told the publication there were “no criminal or suspicious circumstances” found, adding that although the couple did not have any children, their next of kin, who were their nephew and niece living near Manchester, had been notified of their deaths.

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Times The coroner’s inquest into the couple’s deaths will open at Chesterfield coroner’s court on January 30, he said.

In a post on Stubbins and Hope’s website, it was shared that the couple’s funerals will be held at noon on January 29 at Brimington crematorium in Chesterfield.

“Elaine and Malcolm Richmond, from Inkersall, tragically passed away just days apart at Christmas,” the statement said. “Anyone who knows them can join [the funeral] and we celebrate their lives. Any donations received will be given to Ashgate Hospice.”

According to the news, the Richmond family has been visiting the Maldives during Christmas for the last 17 years and photos have been shared. Malcolm’s Facebook page It shows that they are both experienced divers.

As reported by TimesA tribute was published in a Facebook group called Maldives Holidaymakers read: “With deepest sadness and sadness we would like to inform you that two of the most valued members of the Ellaidhoo group, Elaine and Malcom Richmond, have sadly passed away while in the Maldives over the Christmas holiday period.

It continued: “They were members of Maldivian Holidaymakers and were known to many members but were regular visitors to Ellaidhoo. Elaine and Malcolm have visited Ellaidhoo more than 60 times, including three times in 2025, and have also been going to the island at Christmas for the last 17 years.”

The report concluded: “They will be sadly missed by their family and the many friends they made during their many visits. They were very popular with all the staff, made friends and will be greatly missed. RIP Elaine and Malcolm.”

The island of Ellaidhoo is located 42 kilometers west of the capital Malé and can only be reached by seaplane or boat.

PEOPLE contacted Stubbins and Hope and the Chesterfield coroner’s court for more information but did not immediately hear back.

Read the original article People