One of the two fishermen left in serious condition after an incident underwater is now receiving treatment in an ICU (intensive care unit).

Abdulla Siraj, a member of Kulhudhuffushi island’s local government council, said that while one of the individuals has been released, other remains in critical condition.

33-year-old Hussain Radheef, native to Kendhikulhudhoo island of Noonu atoll, is being treated in the ICU of the Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital.

The men were crew members of a vessel named ‘Arc’, which was 12 nautical miles from northern-most Thuraakunu island when the incident occurred on Tuesday night.

Other members of the crew said that the men experienced difficulty breathing after emerging from scraping the vessel’s hull.

The incident was reported to the Maldives National Defence Force at about 6:40pm on Tuesday and they had dispatched a team to their rescue.

Rescue officers say that they were taken to Dhidhdhoo island by 08:35pm and doctors described their condition as 'serious' when they were brought in.