A retired British couple have been killed in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives.
Elaine Richmond, 70, died on December 19 while swimming off the remote Indian Ocean island of Ellaidhoo.
Her husband Malcolm, 71, died in hospital three days later.
It is unclear how the couple died and few details of the accident have emerged.
A funeral director where the couple live in from Inkersall, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, confirmed their deaths following a tragic ‘scuba diving accident’.
Simon Hope said that the wife died on December 19 with her husband losing his battle for life three days later on December 22.
He declined to go into detail of the tragedy.
He said there were no criminal or suspicious circumstances.
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Elaine Richmond, 70, (pictured, left) died on December 19 while swimming off the remote Indian Ocean island of Ellaidhoo. Her husband Malcolm, 71, (pictured, right) died in hospital three days later
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It is unclear how the couple died and few details of the accident have emerged
‘After marriage for just three months, I became a widow aged 27’
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Mr Hope said the couple did not have any children but that their next of kin, a niece living near Manchester, had been informed.
Their funerals will be held on January 29 at noon at Brimington Crematorium.
A post on the funeral director’s website states: ‘Elaine and Malcolm Richmond of Inkersall have tragically passed away just days apart at Christmas.
‘All who knew them are welcome to attend (the funeral) and celebrate their lives.’
‘Any donations received will be given to Ashgate Hospice.’
An inquest into the couple’s deaths is due to be opened at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court on January 30.
The Richmonds had visited the resort where they died 60 times and celebrated Christmas there for the past 17 years.
Pat Scannell on a Facebook group called Maldives Holidaymakers posted a tribute, stating: ‘With deepest regret and sadness, we would like to inform you that two of our dearest members of the Ellaidhoo group Elaine and Malcom Richmond sadly passed away whilst on the Maldives over the Christmas holiday period.
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Their funerals will be held on January 29 at noon at Brimington Crematorium
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An inquest into the couple’s deaths is due to be opened at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court on January 30
‘They were members of Maldives Holidaymakers and they were known to a lot of members but they regularly visited Ellaidhoo.
‘Elaine and Malcolm visited Ellaidhoo over 60 times, three times in 2025, and in addition had been going to the island for the last 17 years at Christmas.
‘They will be sadly missed by family and the many friends that they made over their many visits.
‘They were very popular with all the staff they had made friends with and will be sorely missed.
‘RIP Elaine and Malcolm.’
Their next door neighbour Rachel McManus posted a tribute on social media, saying: ’So sad. They were lovely neighbours and we are still in shock.
’Thoughts go out to both family and friends.’
The Maldives – a holiday destination favoured by Sir David and Lady Victoria Beckham and where they have previously hosted their close friends celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana – are located southwest of India and Sri Lanka and forming the smallest country in Asia.
The islands are one of the world’s most geographically dispersed states, known for its coral atolls spread across a vast submarine ridge.
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The couple did not have any children but that their next of kin, a niece living near Manchester, had been informed
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The Richmonds had visited the resort where they died 60 times and celebrated Christmas there for the past 17 years
Ellaidhoo, located 26 miles (42km) from Male is only accessible by seaplane or speed boat.
Tour groups encourage visitors to ‘dive into the world of wonder’ with one stating: ‘You won’t regret visiting the underwater guests at Ellaidhoo Maldives.
‘The swimming or diving in warm cerulean waters as clear as glass, it’s easy to fall under the spell the vivid corals the reef, which will leave one pleasingly intoxicated.’
