Three policemen receive gold medals for saving lives in deadly landing craft sinking

Three policemen were awarded the Gold Life Saving Medal on Thursday, for their role in saving lives in a deadly incident in July when a landing craft capsized off K. Gaafaru.

The landing craft had been traveling from K. Thilafushi with a crew of 10 – two Maldivians and eight expatriates – when it sank off Gaafaru on July 31. Eight sailors were safely rescued, while two, both of them Indian nationals, went missing.

Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed presented the Gold Life Saving Medal in a ceremony at the Shaheed Hussain Adam Building in Male’ to three policemen involved in the rescue efforts.

They are:

• Senior Sergeant Ahmed Amir
• Constable Mohamed Lahfan
• Constable Ali Zidan

Addressing the ceremony, CP Ahmed Mohamed commended Amir, Lahfan and Zidan for their bravery.

He also highlighted on the courage and sincerity required of police officers in life-and-death situations, and stressed the need for the police to work together to overcome challenges and to always be in a state of operational readiness to deal with such situations.

Ahmed Mohamed reiterated the police service’s commitment to saving lives and ascertaining the safety of members of the general public, as well as to celebrating police officers who show exemplary bravery and sincerity in executing their duties.

The sinking of the landing craft took place amid rough seas and strong winds unleashed by monsoon rains. While eight of the sailors were successfully rescued, two Indian sailors remain missing, and are presumed dead.