The Navy is speaking out after a missing local sailor was found hiding in the engine room of his own ship.
Action News Jax reported last week when Peter Mims from Putnam County was found safe aboard the USS Shiloh. He'd been missing for a week.
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The Navy suspected he had fallen overboard in the waters off the coast of Japan.
Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight, of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs Office, sent the following statement to Action News Jax:
"Much of this situation is still under investigation. What I can say is the following.
"The Shiloh never stopped searching for their shipmate and their tenacity paid off. Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class Peter Mims was found in the engineering spaces, where he turned himself in to his shipmates.
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"We do not know all the details and motivations behind this Sailor's week-long disappearance. This matter remains under investigation, but early indications are that he had taken steps to avoid being found by other Sailors who were actively attempting to locate him.
"This is rare in the 7th Fleet area of operations, and would require some research to determine if this has happened in the past few years, here and fleet-wide. One thing to keep in mind, if a Sailor does not want to be found, it impedes the speed in which we can successfully find an individual. We are thankful that he was found alive and will get him the support he needs at this time."
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