81-year old reported missing rescued at sea

An 81-year-old man who set out from K. Maafushi on a sailboat reported missing has been found at sea.

Ahmed Adam Manik, Shady Grove, Maafushi, was reported missing to Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) at 14:08 today, prompting a search and rescue operation. According to MNDF, the man had set out on an 18-foot sailboat.

The search operation found Adam Manik east of the Adaaran Rannaalhi resort at sea. The man was rescued onto an MNDF vessel which headed to Maafushi afterward. MNDF added that Adam Manik's condition was fine when he was found. 

Maafushi Council president Usman Rasheed told Sun that the sailboat in which Ahmed Adam Manik set off on was reported missing to the council by the boat owner around 09:00.

The council was later informed by a resident that Ahmed Adam Manik was seen on the boat at dawn.

The council went to Ahmed Adam Manik’s residence and was told by his family that he hadn’t been home since morning and that they believe he went fishing on the sailboat as they also found fish was taken out from the refrigerator, presumably to be used as bait. Usman added that the man had never gone fishing previously.

Usman had stated to Sun that the missing man is hearing and speech impaired.