Navy identifies sailor who died during training dive

A sailor assigned to a bomb disposal unit at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek died during a training exercise off the coast of North Carolina on Thursday.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Gallant, 22, was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 12, part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command in Virginia Beach.

Gallant, of Winchester, Ky., enlisted in 2008. He was conducting dive operations with his unit aboard the Canadian coastal defense vessel Summerside, which is here for Bold Alligator, a major, multinational naval training exercise that's set to kick off in the Atlantic next week.

On Friday a spokesman for Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Lt. Cmdr. John Gay, said the Navy is investigating what happened.

"It's too early to know anything for certain," Gay said.

He said the sailor was treated at the scene but couldn't be revived. He was taken to Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Explosive ordnance disposal units are tasked with handling bombs in any environment, including under the water, so diving is a routine part of their training.

Corinne Reilly, (757) 446-2949, corinne.reilly@pilotonline.com