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Post-mortem forensic examinations have confirmed that five Italian tourists died from oxygen deprivation after running out of air inside an underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll, UK-based DIVE Magazine reported.
News Desk
The five Italian tourists who tragically died during a cave dive in Vaavu Atoll.
MALE : Post-mortem examinations conducted on five Italian tourists who died in an underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll have confirmed that they died from anoxia after running out of breathing air.
According to a report published by the UK-based publication DIVE Magazine, consultants submitted their forensic findings to the Busto Arsizio Public Prosecutor’s Office in Italy following tests conducted at Gallarate Hospital.
The official forensic findings ruled out rumors of equipment gas contamination, confirming that toxicological examinations found no harmful substances or drugs in the victims’ tissues. Authorities also confirmed that no physical injuries were present on the bodies, disproving earlier media speculation regarding animal attacks inside the cave system.
The tragic incident occurred in May 2026 near Alimathaa, when the group entered a deep cave at a depth of nearly 47 meters during a marine research expedition.
Italian legal representatives noted that while the forensic report confirms oxygen deprivation as the direct cause of death, investigations remain active to determine the exact sequence of events that led the group to run out of air underwater.
