Man rescued from drowning at Male’ North Harbor put on ventilator

The man who was rescued from drowning at the Male’ North Harbor on Sunday is in serious condition, says the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

The drowning accident took place just before noon on Sunday.

A spokesperson told Sun on Monday morning that the victim, identified only as a Maldivian male, is being treated on a ventilator at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The hospital declined to disclose any details.

The man was rescued from the waters by Abdulla 'Fuku' Areef, the former president of Maldives Bodyboarding Association (MBBA), who was there to pick up a package from a boat docked at the harbor.

The surfing champion sprang into action as soon as he saw someone in the waters struggling to stay afloat.

Fuku told Sun that he initially directed the man to come towards

He grabbed a buoy from a nearby boat and jumped into the water. According to Fuku, the man was completely underwater by the time he reached him. He grabbed hold of his jeans and lifted him up, and swam to the shore, and asked for help from the crowd gathered there.

He said that a man in a Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) uniform climbed down to assist him.