Speedboat hits man fishing off Dhangethi in fatal crash

A man died on Saturday morning, after getting hit by a speedboat as he was fishing for groupers off the coast of ADh. Dhangethi.

The incident was reported to the police at around 07:55 am.

Dhangethi Council president Muaviyath Rasheed identified the deceased as a Bangladeshi male.

The man had been part of the crew of the fishing boat ‘Twins’, registered to F. Feeali.

According to the Dhangethi Council, the boat had been travelling with a crew of six people; the deceased and four other Bangladeshi nationals, and a Maldivian man – the captain.

The owner of the boat, Ghassan Mohamed told Sun that the men went into the waters to catch grouper after putting up flags, warning other vessels not to travel in the area.

This claim is supported by a video of the immediate aftermath of the incident, which showed two orange flags put up on floating buoys near the boat.

According to Ghassan, the rest of the crew had jumped into the water and grabbed the man, as soon as the speedboat crashed into him.

“He was already deceased when he was brought up,” said Ghassan.

The police have arrested the captain of the speedboat involved in the accident, who was identified only as a Maldivian male.

The body of the deceased was taken to the Dhangethi Health Center. Ghassan said the speedboat involved in the collision is docked at Dhangethi, and that he had been informed that a forensic team is on its way from the capital.

According to the Dhangethi Council, the speedboat involved in the crash is a privately-owned boat which ferries passengers between Male’ City and ADh. Maamigili.

The case is under investigation by the police.