Retired couple die 3 days after scuba diving accident while on Christmas holiday in Maldives

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• A retired couple from England have died after a scuba diving accident while on holiday in the Maldives.

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

• As noted by the British newspaper The Times, The couple had spent Christmas on the remote island of Ilaidhu – which can only be accessed by seaplane or boat – for the past 17 years.

A retired couple from England have tragically died after a “scuba diving accident” on holiday in the Maldives.

Elaine and Malcolm Richmond, 70 and 71 respectively, were enjoying Christmas on the Indian Ocean island of Elaidhu, where they have spent the past 17 holiday seasons, according to the British outlet. The Times.

The pair are believed to have “accidented” while scuba diving, according to their funeral home, Stubbins and Hope, based in the Derbyshire village where the couple lived.

Funeral director Simon Hope declined to go into details of the accident, he said Daily Mail That Ellen died on December 19, three days after her husband died on December 22.

Hope also told the publication that there were “no criminal or suspicious circumstances” and added that although the couple had no children, their relatives, their niece who lived near Manchester, had been informed of their deaths.

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The Times It is reported that a coroner’s inquest into the couple’s deaths will open on January 30 at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court.

A post on Stubbins and Hope’s website shared that the couple’s funeral will be held at noon on Jan. 29 at Brimington Crematorium in Chesterfield.

“Elaine and Malcolm Richmond, from Inkersall, have sadly passed away just days before Christmas,” it added. “Everyone who knows them is welcome to attend [the funeral] And celebrate your life. Any donations received will go to Ashgate Hospice.”

According to the outlet, the Richmonds have visited the Maldives over Christmas for the past 17 years, and pictures shared on Malcolm’s Facebook page show they were both experienced divers.

As reported by The TimesA tribute posted on the Facebook group Maldives Holidaymakers read: “With deep regret and sadness, we would like to inform you that two of our beloved members of the Ellaidhoo Group, Elaine and Malcom Richmond, have tragically passed away during their Christmas holidays in the Maldives.

It continued, “They were members of Maldives Holidaymakers, and they were known to many members, but they regularly visited Ilaidhu. Elaine and Malcolm have been to the island over 60 times, three times in 2025, and additionally at Christmas for the past 17 years.”

“They will be sadly missed by family and the many friends they made on their many visits. They were very popular with all staff, made friends with them and will be greatly missed. RIP Ellen and Malcolm,” it concluded.

The island of Ellaidhoo is located 26 miles west of the capital, Male, and is only accessible by seaplane or boat.

PEOPLE has reached out to Stubbins and Hope, and Chesterfield Coroner’s Court for more information but did not immediately receive responses.

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