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Seven other Marines were rescued and are alive while one was
killed after their vehicle took on water and sank around 5:45
p.m. Pacific time on Thursday (0045 GMT Friday), U.S. military
officials said during a news conference.
"They signaled to the rest of the unit that they were in fact
taking on water," Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman said. "Immediate
response was provided by two additional amphibious assault
vehicles as well a safety boat."
Two of the rescued Marines were in critical condition at Scripps
Memorial Hospital La Jolla while the other five are back aboard
their assigned ships, Gen. David Berger said.
A search and rescue mission involving a U.S. Navy destroyer and
a Coast Guard cutter continued on Friday afternoon for the
missing Marines and sailor.
The Marines were wearing combat gear along with inflatable vests
when the incident occurred, Osterman said.
"It sank completely," he said, adding that it was in several
hundred feet of water. At "26 tons, the assumption is that it
went all the way to the bottom."
The incident occurred during what the Marine Corps said was a
routine training exercise near San Clemente Island. Marines
often practice beach assaults there using amphibious troop
transport vehicles.
Berger said he suspended all AAV water operations until the
cause is determined. He also said AAVs across the fleet will be
inspected.
All the Marines involved were assigned to the 15th Marine
Expeditionary Unit, which is based at Camp Pendleton, the
largest Marine base on the West Coast of the United States,
between Orange and San Diego counties.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta and Brendan O'Brien; Editing by
Marguerita Choy, Bill Tarrant and Daniel Wallis)
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