3 police officers awarded gold medals for rescue operation near Gaafaru

Three police officers have been awarded the Gold Medal for Saving Lives in recognition of their efforts to rescue passengers from a vessel that capsized near K. Gaafaru in July.

The medals were presented on Thursday at a ceremony held at the Maldives Police Service headquarters, the Shaheed Hussain Adam Building, in Malé.

The officers were recognised for their involvement in the rescue operation following the capsizing of Hawks Voyage on 31 July 2026.

The vessel, which had departed from Malé, capsized near Gaafaru at approximately 8.50am, throwing all 10 people on board into the sea.

Eight people were rescued, while two foreign nationals were reported missing. Despite subsequent search efforts, the two missing individuals have not been found.

The officers awarded the Gold Medal for Saving Lives were:

The medals were awarded in recognition of the officers' efforts to rescue those stranded at sea following the accident.

Speaking after the presentation, Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed commended the officers for their actions during the rescue operation and thanked them for their service.

He highlighted the importance of coordination and operational preparedness when responding to emergencies, particularly incidents involving people in distress at sea.

The Commissioner also emphasised the need for police personnel to maintain readiness to respond to similar situations.

The ceremony recognised the officers' contribution to the rescue operation, which resulted in eight people being brought to safety following the maritime accident.