Sailor killed after getting caught in rudder ram - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Sailor killed after getting caught in rudder ram

A sailor who died Saturday after he was injured aboard the ballistic-missile submarine Nebraska had become “entangled and pinned” in the rudder ram during a cleaning evolution, according to the Naval Safety Center’s Web site.

The Navy was notifying the sailor’s next-of-kin and, as of Tuesday afternoon, had not yet released the victim’s name. The safety center Web site identified him as a third-class machinist’s mate.

Navy officials have not provided any details about the “apparent accident” as the boomer was operating off Oahu on Saturday.

“There was no damage to the submarine,” Lt. Cmdr. Dave Benham, a spokesman for Submarine Force Pacific, said Monday evening. “None of the other crew members were injured. The crew was brought into port to address the needs of the crew because of this tragedy” and to help in the investigations into the incident, Benham said.

He said it was premature to discuss what types of investigations will be conducted. Nebraska crew members rendered medical assistance before the sailor was taken off the submarine by medevac helicopter, but he died en route to the hospital, said Lt. Kyle Raines, a spokesman with Submarine Group Trident in Silverdale, Wash.