JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The cause of death has been revealed for the Navy sailor who died during a training exercise at Naval Air Station Jacksonville last month.
Chief Petty Officer Pete Lagosh, 41, was participating in a training exercise on June 4 while on an intermediate stop at the naval base, Cmdr. Dawn Stankus previously told First Coast News.
First Coast News received the autopsy report for Lagosh Tuesday; it says the sailor died of an accidental drowning, but notes that atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease were "contributing causes" to his death.
Stankus said Lagosh was in an "on-duty status" and enrolled in the Navy's Surface Rescue Swimmer School (SRSS) Category II refresher course. Lagosh's "intermediate stop" at NAS Jax was during a permanent change of station orders to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 in Japan.
According to a training video provided by NAS Jax, the Surface Rescue Swimmer course teaches sailors how to perform life-saving measures and rescue downed airmen. The sailors in the video claim it is very challenging and not everyone passes it.
"We offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family, friends and shipmates of the Sailor during this difficult time," Stankus previously said. "Grief counseling services and support are available through the appropriate chains of command and through chaplains."