Husband 'drank himself to death' days after wife drowned scuba diving
A man died of a heart attack brought on by acute alcohol intoxication days after his wife died while scuba diving in the Maldives, an inquest has heard. Elaine Richmond, 70, who had visited the South Asian country 'on many previous occasions', died on the island of Ellaidhoo on December 19 last year after she was pulled away by a strong current in the sea.Her husband, 71-year-old retired miner Malcolm Richmond, was then taken to hospital after his health deteriorated while he was waiting at the airport for a flight home two days later. He died on Christmas Eve in a hospital in the capital Male.An inquest was opened into the deaths of the couple, who lived in Inkersall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, at Chesterfield Coroner's Court on Friday, referencing a report provided by the Maldives police authorities.Speaking about Mrs Richmond's death, assistant coroner Matthew Kewley said: 'On December 19 hospital staff notified the police that Mrs Richmond had been brought to hospital from a resort in Ellaidhoo following a scuba diving incident.'That [police] report suggested that Elaine Richmond and her husband were professional divers.'I think they mean experienced divers - it's not suggested they were working as divers.'It is understood they visited the Maldives on many previous occasions.' 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 days later An inquest into the couple’s deaths was been opened at Chesterfield Coroner’s CourtHe added: 'On this particular day they had carried out a dive when the sea conditions deteriorated which unfortunately led to Mrs Richmond being pulled away in a strong current. 'Her husband immediately raised the alarm and sought assistance and a search was commenced but sadly the body of Mrs Richmond was then recovered from the water.'The cause of death for Mrs Richmond, who the inquest heard was a currency handler, was given as drowning and asphyxiation by the hospital in the Maldives.Opening the inquest into her husband's death, Mr Kewley said: 'The known circumstances of his death are these - on December 24 2025, hospital staff in the Maldives called the Maldives police department to say a British national had passed away.'It's understood that Mr Richmond had been admitted to hospital on December 21 after his health had deteriorated whilst he was at the airport waiting to leave the Maldives.'It was reported that he was heavily intoxicated at the airport.'His cause of death was given as acute alcohol intoxication, multi-organ dysfunction and cardiac arrest.Both deaths were reported to the coroner on January 6 after the couple's bodies were repatriated to the UK. The couple (pictured) lived in Inkersall in Chesterfield, Derbyshire The Richmonds often visited the resort where they celebrated Christmas for the past 17 yearsRead More Retired British couple are killed in scuba diving accident in the Maldives The coroner said a full inquest will take place at a later date when more inquiries have been made with the authorities in the Maldives. 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.'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.'
