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[iNews24 reporter Kim Da-woon] A U.S. sailor who had been rushed to the Strait of Hormuz amid fighting in the Middle East briefly went ashore in Thailand, was attacked by a monkey and required urgent medical evacuation.
On the 23rd (local time), U.S. online outlet Axios reported that earlier this month the Navy moved the mine-countermeasure ship USS Chief, which had been operating in Southeast Asia, to the Middle East to support mine-clearing operations tied to Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Chief is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship. The Navy typically deploys it with helicopters, underwater drones, surveillance aircraft and destroyers. The ship’s crew complements 84 personnel.
While the Chief made a port call in Phuket, Thailand, the crew encountered an unexpected hazard: an aggressive monkey.
Phuket is known for monkeys that roam public areas. According to reports, an electrical technician from the Chief went ashore and suddenly came face-to-face with one of the animals.
The sailor suffered scratches during the animal’s attack and was removed from the ship for medical evacuation to the forward base in Sasebo, Japan.
Military medical personnel typically treat monkey attacks immediately to guard against infections such as rabies.
A U.S. Navy official said odd incidents happen from time to time and called the episode “an unknown unknown,” beyond what anyone might have imagined.
The Chief is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship. The Navy typically deploys it with helicopters, underwater drones, surveillance aircraft and destroyers. The ship’s crew complements 84 personnel.
A U.S. 7th Fleet spokesperson said the incident did not cause any disruption or delay to operations.
Earlier in March, the Navy diverted its newest aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, to the Mediterranean after a shipboard fire broke out during operations in the Red Sea.
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