A U.S. Navy sailor from South Florida died on Friday during an incident in the Red Sea.
The Department of Defense identified the sailor as Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola of Miramar.
The 34-year-old was assigned to USS Mason deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, according to the Department of Defense.
His wife sent a statement to NBC6, recalling the moment she was informed of her husband's passing.
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"I was in complete shock when two servicemen broke the news at my door on Friday morning," her statement read. "'Till this day, I still cannot believe it."
She also remembered Aregbesola as a cherished father.
"As a father of a 4-year-old son, Oriola was a source of guidance and support, always there to offer a listening ear and a comforting embrace," she wrote. "His wisdom and love guided us through life's challenges, and his laughter brought joy to some of the darkest of days."
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Aregbesola was an aircraft engine mechanic with the Navy who enlisted in July of 2020. He was born in Nigeria and moved to South Florida in 2017.
“The way he spoke about it, it was his passion," his aunt, Carol Martin, told NBC6. "He knows it’s a dangerous task, but that’s something he signed up for, so he is not a complainer. He would say this is the mission, this is what I have to do.”
The circumstances surrounding Friday's incident have not been released. The DOD says an investigation is ongoing.
