Italy posthumously awards Gold Medal for Civil Valour to Maldivian soldier Mahudhee
Mahudhee died in May while receiving treatment at ADK Hospital after developing decompression sickness during the search and rescue operation.
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Italy has posthumously awarded its Gold Medal for Civil Valour to Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahudhee, who died after developing decompression sickness while participating in a search operation for missing Italian divers in Vaavu Atoll.
The award, Italy's highest honour for civil valour, was presented to Mahudhee's family at a ceremony held at Barceló Nasandhura on Wednesday evening.
The ceremony, organised to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Italy, was attended by Italian Ambassador to the Maldives Damiano Francovigh and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed.
The ambassador and the minister jointly presented the award to Mahudhee's family.
The honour recognised Mahudhee's courage and humanitarian service during the operation to locate and rescue Italian divers who had gone missing while diving in Vaavu Atoll.
Mahudhee died in May while receiving treatment at ADK Hospital after developing decompression sickness during the search and rescue operation.
Following the presentation, Mahudhee's family joined officials from the Italian Embassy, the Maldivian government, the Maldives Police Service and the MNDF for a commemorative photograph.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Saeed paid tribute to Mahudhee's service and thanked his family.
He also expressed appreciation to the Italian government for its support during the period following the incident.
The Italian Embassy in Colombo and Italy's Honorary Consular Agency in Malé have also launched a fundraising initiative to provide financial assistance to Mahudhee's family.
The embassy said contributions are being accepted through a designated account opened at Maldives Islamic Bank under the name Sergeant Mahudhee Memorial Fund.
According to the embassy, all funds collected through the initiative will be handed over to Mahudhee's legal heirs.
The fundraising campaign will continue until the end of 2026.
