PRESS RELEASE | Feb. 4, 2011
USS Carl Vinson rescues sailor who went overboard
By None , US Naval Forces Central Command

CENTCOM

Navy Aircrewman 3rd Class Toni Jester, assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 15, is lowered from an HH-60H Seahawk to rescue a Sailor who went overboard from the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian T. White.
ARABIAN SEA (Feb. 4, 2011) — USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) successfully recovered one of its own Sailors who went overboard on Feb. 4 at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time while the ship was in the Arabian Sea.

A look-out spotted the Sailor and the ship immediately directed an already airborne HH-60H helicopter from the HS-15 “Red Lions” to begin search and rescue efforts. Carl Vinson also lowered a rigid hull inflatable boat into the water.

The helicopter recovered the Sailor in less than 20 minutes. The Sailor was returned to the Carl Vinson and was uninjured. Due to privacy considerations, the Sailor’s identity will not be released.

Carl Vinson is in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations on a routine deployment and is relieving USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to conduct Maritime Security Operations and provide support to operations ENDURING FREEDOM and NEW DAWN.