Crime & Safety

Sailor Training to Become SEAL Rescued by Helicopter

Training with a group of about 50 other sailors, the unidentified man was released from the hospital Thursday morning.

A 24-year-old sailor training to become a Navy SEAL is in good condition today after becoming weak and dehydrated when he became lost during land navigation training in the Laguna Mountains, authorities said.

Cal Fire, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and San Diego Fire-Rescue came to the sailor's rescue Wednesday night, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler told The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The sailor, whose name was not released, failed to report back to a
rendezvous point at 3 p.m. Wednesday with the rest of his group of about 50, Mohler said.   

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Cal Fire dispatched two fire engine teams from Pine Valley at 7:51 p.m. to help in the search. The agency also requested the assistance of the Sheriff's Department's ASTREA helicopter.

About 40 minutes later, the SEAL used a strobe signaling device to get
the helicopter crew's attention in the area of Big Laguna Lake and Los Huecos Road.

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Firefighters couldn't reach him and the helicopter crew was
unable to hoist him out of the area, so a San Diego Fire-Rescue helicopter was called in about 9:30 p.m., Mohler said.

Around 10:30 p.m., the SEAL was hoisted up by the San Diego Fire-Rescue helicopter and taken to a hospital.

"He is not a SEAL yet. He is in training to become one," said Lt. Junior Grade Leslie Hubell with the Navy's Special Warfare Center.

The unidentified sailor was in good condition and released from the hospital Thursday morning, she said.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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