Tragedy in the Maldives, Montefalcone and Oddenino return to the University site

This is the main news in the enquiry into the tragedy in the Maldives where Monica Montefalcone, 51, a lecturer in Marine Biology in Genoa; her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, 23, close to graduating in Biomedical Engineering; Muriel Oddenino, 31, a researcher in Genoa, died; Federico Gualtieri, of the same age, a recent graduate in marine biology and ecology, also from the Ligurian capital; Gianluca Benedetti, 44, from Padua, manager and diving instructor of the tour operator with whom the excursion aboard the yacht "Duke of York" that cost the lives of the five Italians.

As has emerged in recent days, the divers allegedly reached a depth of 60 metres, whereas dives of similar groups usually take place around 30 metres. The Roman magistrates want to understand by whom they were authorised.

While the first two autopsy examinations carried out the day before yesterday in Gallarate - followed the next day by the other three - on Gianluca Benedetti and Federico Gualtieri are trying to shed light on the causes of the massacre, one of the family lawyers of Monica Montefalcone, one of the five victims, pointed the finger at the University of Genoa, for which the expert worked: 'Those dives in the Maldives were linked to academic activities'.

"These missions take place annually if not every six months and the university is absolutely aware of what is being done," explained Alessandro Albert. For the other lawyer, Giuseppe Pugliese, 'there is objective data. The professor was there because she had to carry out an activity within the university. The latter opinion is also shared by Antonello Riccio, lawyer for the family of Federico Gualtieri, one of the dead divers, a recent graduate in marine biology.

The autopsies ordered by the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office on the bodies of University of Genoa professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal and Unige researcher Muriel Oddeino, who died on 14 May during a cave dive in the Maldives together with boatmaster Gianluca Benedetti and researcher Federico Gualtieri, whose autopsy had been performed the day before, were concluded late this afternoon at Gallarate Hospital.

Giuseppe Pugliese, who assists the teacher's family, explained that the autopsy examination did not clarify the cause of death in the sense that no injuries or trauma were found. "To shed full light on what happened it will be necessary to wait for the results of the toxicological examinations, expected in the next few days," said the lawyer.

After the autopsies, the clearance from the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office for the funeral arrived.

The funeral of Federico Gualtieri, the 30-year-old who died in the Maldives during a dive with four other divers, will be held on Thursday at 4pm in the church of Sant'Ambrogio in Omegna (Verbano-Cusio-Ossola). On the day after the autopsy, performed yesterday, the family obtained authorisation from the authorities for the celebration of the young man's last farewell.

There will be public mourning on Friday in Poirino, near Turin, where the funeral of Muriel Oddenino, the young biologist who lost her life while diving in the Maldives, will be held.

This was announced on social media by the mayor, Nicholas Padalino, who emphasised 'on behalf of the Poirinese community, we extend our condolences to Muriel's family and loved ones'.

The funerals of Monica Montefalcone and Giorgia Sommacal, mother and daughter, victims of the tragedy in the Maldives, will be held on Saturday morning in Genoa Pegli at 11 a.m. in a private ceremony. This is according to sources close to the family.

The University of Genoa has reactivated curricula and links to the scientific publications of Monica Montefalcone and Muriel Oddenino, the professor and research fellow at Distav.

There is a message of remembrance of the victims, starting with Montefalcone, described as a "passionate champion of the defence of the sea", and then the message of her research group, the 'Marine Landscape Ecology Laboratory':

"Monica was our guide, the passion she passed on to us was the glue that held us together";

byGiorgia Sommacal the passion for the sea and travelling with her mother, but also her 'sweetness, kindness and brilliance' are remembered.

Muriel Oddenino, the research team remembers her as 'a valuable friend and colleague';

Federico Gualtieri as 'one of the most brilliant thesis students in our lab'.

Thoughts also go out to Gianluca Bendedetti and Mohamed Mahudhee, the Maldivian military diver who died during an initial attempt to recover the bodies.

"We thank the Finnish divers who made it possible to bring our loved ones so prematurely deceased back to Italia," the note concludes.