Navy sailor from Utah helps rescue child, others after ship sinks

Navy sailor from Utah helps rescue child, others after ship sinks

(U.S. Marine Corps/Sgt. Valerie Eppler)


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BOUGAINVILLE, Papua New Guinea — After six people escaped a sinking ship and swam to shore, a naval petty officer from West Jordan was there to help.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Matthew Hawkins was among those from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 who responded to a request to transport the six people to a medical ship on Tuesday. The group, which included a mother and her 18-month-old child, swam to a land mass known as Han Island in Papua New Guinea after their small boat sank, according to the U.S. Navy.

Their vessel was reported as being lost at sea on Saturday, the Navy reported. The U.S. embassy in Port Moresby was then contacted by officials from Papua New Guinea’s Autonomous Region of Bougainville to ask if they could assist in transporting the survivors.

A photo shows Hawkins carrying the 18-month-old child to the USNS Mercy, a Military Sealift Command hospital ship. All of the patients were in good condition after receiving medical care, according to the Navy.

The Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority is continuing a search to locate other survivors of the crash who did not make it to shore with the group, according to the Navy.

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