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LONDON - Two US sailors were killed after falling overboard from a nuclear-powered submarine as it left the southern English port of Plymouth today, the US Navy said.
Two other sailors who fell overboard from the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul suffered minor injuries but were later released from hospital, a spokesman for the US Navy's 6th fleet in Italy said.
The Navy said the cause of the accident was under investigation.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul had spent a week in port at Plymouth and was leaving the Devonport naval base when the accident happened.
Sixth fleet spokesman Lieutenant Chris Servello said the four sailors were rescued by fellow crew members and British authorities after falling overboard and were taken to a local hospital, where two of them were pronounced dead.
The Navy was not releasing the names of the dead sailors pending notification of next of kin, he said.
The submarine remained at sea after the accident, he said.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul has its home port at Norfolk, Virginia.
- REUTERS
