US Navy sailor dies aboard dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry

A U.S. Navy sailor aboard USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) died Thursday, May 26, of a non-combat related injury while the ship was underway in the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea, Navcent, the Naval Forces Central Command informed.

According to the U.S. Navy, the ship’s medical personnel responded to the scene and the sailor was pronounced dead at 7:39 a.m., local time.

While the Navy is now investigating the circumstances of the death, it noted that there were “no indications of foul play”.

In accordance with Department of Defense policy, the identity of the Sailor will be released 24 hours following notification of family members.

USS Harpers Ferry is part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and is currently forward deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

Another sailor was lost on April 9 aboard the USS Carter Hall, another Harper Ferry-class dock landing ship. The sailor was reported missing off the coast of North Carolina on April 9 and U.S. Navy and Coast Guard units immediately launched a search and rescue operation.

The rescue efforts were called off April 12 and the sailor was pronounced dead.