The Italian government has awarded its Gold Medal for Civil Valor, the country's highest honor for acts of bravery, to the family of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahdhy, who passed away during a search operation for five missing Italian divers in Vaavu Atoll.

The award certificate was presented to Mahdhy's family yesterday by Italian Ambassador to the Maldives Damiano Frederick at a ceremony held at Barcelo Nasandhuraa.

The ceremony marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Italy, as well as Italy's 80th National Day.

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed and other senior Maldivian government officials attended the ceremony.

In addition to honoring Mahdhy, the Italian government has launched a fundraising campaign to provide financial assistance to his family.

The initiative is being organized in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Colombo and the Office of the Honorary Consul of Italy in the Maldives.

Donations opened a week ago and are being collected through a dedicated account established for the cause. The Mahdhy Memorial Fund will be opened at Maldives Islamic Bank, with fundraising scheduled to continue until the end of the year.

Four Italian tourists and their safari diving instructor went missing in May while exploring a 60 metre deep underwater cave near Vaavu Atoll Alimathaa.

Mahdhy, an MNDF diver, passed away while receiving treatment at ADK Hospital after being brought to Male' following decompression complications.

Following his death, the search operation was suspended. However, a team of three experienced Finnish divers later arrived in the Maldives, with assistance from the MNDF and police, to recover the bodies of the three remaining missing divers and taken Italy.