A 63-year-old American tourist, who was diving near Hulhumalé, had one leg severed after being struck by a dive boat propeller while resurfacing from her dive, a police spokesperson has confirmed.

The woman, whose leg was completely severed below the knee, is currently receiving treatment at Hulhumalé’s Treetop Hospital, the police said.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), after an ‘active search’ in an effort to locate the dismembered leg, reported that they had now suspended the search which had been carried out within the area where the incident occurred.

The police are currently investigating the incident, which was first reported around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.