THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 17, 1996 TAG: 9604170353
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
The body of a Little Creek-based Navy SEAL, missing since Friday when his rubber raft capsized during a training exercise on a Venezuelan river, was found Monday.
The body of Petty Officer Jason E. Pruitt, 25, of Lynnhaven, Fla., was found about 5 miles downstream from where his raft overturned in rapids on the Caroni River in northeastern Venezuela, said a spokesman for the U.S. Southern Command in Panama City, Panama.
Pruitt, a member of SEAL Team Four at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, was taking part in a river-training exercise for Venezuelan soldiers.
The team had been in Venezuela since March 26 supporting a joint military exercise with the Venezuelan military as part of a longstanding training agreement.
Members of SEAL Team Four were conducting the exercise about 4 p.m. Friday, using three rubber boats and working with Venezuelan military students, according to officials.
One of the three boats - the safety boat with Pruitt and four other SEALs aboard - capsized, knocking all five occupants from the boat. Pruitt was the only one not immediately recovered.
Search efforts began immediately and continued during daylight hours through Monday.
Six members of the Panama-based Naval Special Warfare Unit 8 and Special Operations Command South joined the search early Sunday.
Military members searched downstream on foot, in boats and in helicopters.
The capsized boat was found Saturday, slightly damaged, near the main river about 3 miles downstream from the accident site.
Pruitt's body, which was located Monday by a Venezuelan helicopter, was to be transferred to U.S. custody Tuesday and taken to a U.S. military hospital in Panama prior to shipment to the United States.
Plans were being made for a memorial service at Little Creek.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT BOAT DROWNING U.S. NAVY SEAL by CNB