A crew member died today aboard the Los Angeles- class submarine USS San Francisco as a result of injuries sustained when the sub ran aground Jan. 7 south of Guam, U.S. Pacific Fleet officials announced. The sailor’s name has not yet been released. Navy medical personnel were rushed to the scene and came aboard the submarine at the first opportunity this morning, but were unable to save the sailor, officials said. The medical personnel, including a doctor, remain aboard and are treating 23 other crew members for a range of injuries including broken bones, lacerations, bruises and a back injury.
Meanwhile, the submarine remains on the water’s surface and is continuing toward its home port in Guam, escorted by the Coast Guard cutter Galveston Island and U.S. Navy support ship USNS Stockham. The submarine is expected to arrive in port during the afternoon of Jan. 10. Ammunition ship USNS Kiska and military aircraft are also continuing to assist as required, officials said.
The Guam-based attack submarine, with 137 crew aboard, ran aground Jan. 7 while conducting submerged operations, according to Alyssa Batarla, a spokesperson for U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The vessel was en route to Brisbane, Australia, for a routine port visit when the incident occurred, Batarla reported.