USS Frank Cable sailor dies from injuries sustained in steam leak accident

Dec. 8 - A sailor assigned to USS Frank Cable died from injuries he sustained Dec. 1 when a steam pipe ruptured in the engineering spaces of the Guam-based submarine tender.

The crewmember, who was a fireman assigned to the ship’s engineering division, died Dec. 7 at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His name is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

“Our Navy is deeply saddened by this tragedy,” said Pacific Submarine Force commander Rear Adm. Joseph Walsh. “We are grateful for his service to our country, and offer our deepest sympathies to his family.”

The accident occurred on the evening of Dec. 1 (Guam time), after the ship had returned from sea to Apra Harbor, Guam, according to a Navy news release.

The sailors were conducting routine preventive maintenance checks of steam safety valves when the No. 1 boiler experienced a major steam leak into the fire box, rupturing an exhaust plenum and sending pressurized steam into the fire room, the Navy release said.

Eight crewmembers were initially taken to Naval Hospital Guam.

“Two were treated and released in Guam, while the remaining six were flown the next day to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. There they were met by the Burn Special Medical Augmentation Response Team, a nine-member team comprised of the military’s leading burn trauma experts. After initial treatment and evaluation, the six sailors were escorted to Brooke Army Medical Center for specialized burn trauma care,” the release said.

Of the five remaining sailors taken to Brooke Army Medical Center, four remain in very serious condition, and one has been released for outpatient follow-up.

USS Frank Cable remains in Guam while damage is assessed and the accident is investigated, the release said.