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

Clare FisherJanuary 14, 2026 at 5:06 AM

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Elaine Richmond/Facebook

Elaine and Malcolm Richmond -

A retired couple from England passed away over the holiday period following a "scuba diving accident" while on vacation in the Maldives

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

As noted by U.K. newspaper The Times, the couple had spent Christmas on the remote island of Ellaidhoo — which is only accessible by seaplane or boat — for the past 17 years

A retired couple from England have tragically died following a "scuba diving accident" while on vacation in the Maldives.

Elaine and Malcolm Richmond, 70 and 71, respectively, were enjoying Christmas on the island of Ellaidhoo in the Indian Ocean, where they had spent the past 17 holiday seasons, according to U.K. outlet The Times.

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

While funeral director Simon Hope declined to go into details of the accident, he did tell The Daily Mail that Elaine died on December 19, with her husband passing away three days later on December 22.

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

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The Times reports that a coroner’s investigation into the couple’s deaths is due to be opened at Chesterfield coroner’s court on January 30.

A post on Stubbins and Hope’s website shared that the couple’s funerals would take place on January 29 at noon at Brimington ­crematorium in Chesterfield.

“Elaine and Malcolm Richmond of Inkersall have tragically passed away just days apart at ­Christmas,” it added. “All who knew them are welcome to attend [the funeral] and celebrate their lives. Any donations received will be given to Ashgate Hospice.”

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

WaterFrame / Alamy Stock Photo

Maldive Island Ellaidhoo, North Ari Atoll, Maldives

As reported by The Times, a tribute posted on a Facebook group called Maldives Holidaymakers read: “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.

It continued, “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,” it concluded.

-elyn-/Getty

Ellaidhoo - stock photo

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

PEOPLE has contacted Stubbins and Hope, and Chesterfield coroner’s court for further information but didn’t immediately receive responses.

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