Five of the seven Navy sailors who died aboard the USS Fitzgerald when it collided off the east coast of Japan may have been almost instantly „incapacitated.“
The official also noted the Navy is trying to corroborate accounts which suggest that the two sailors who weren’t almost instantly „incapacitated“ attempted to help the other five escape the incoming water.
„But at some point the ship somehow lost communication, “ with the two sailors and they also perished, according to the official. All seven were found dead in the flooded area.
It also appears that the collision caused part of the berthing compartment to collapse inward, making it difficult for survivors to get out.
The official said It may never be known if the order to close the watertight hatch to the berthing area came while the two men were still alive.
The formal investigation will determine who gave that order, but the initial sense is the decision was necessary because water had not only flooded the berthing area but was flowing into other locations including a deck below.
The official emphasized that the Navy will wait for all the investigations to be completed before coming to any conclusions about the actions of the crew and decisions over citations for heroism or potential disciplinary action.
The official also strongly emphasized that no judgments are being made about the timing of the decision to shut the watertight hatch.
