This post has been updated to include an additional statement from the Naval Special Warfare Center.
The SEAL who was killed in a parachuting accident on Sunday has been identified as Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Remington Peters, according to a late Monday statement from Peters’ family.
Peters, 27, was a member of Navy parachute demonstration team “The Leap Frogs” and was jumping as part of the New York Fleet Week.
“A member of the U.S. Navy’s elite parachute team, the Leap Frogs, was pronounced dead today at 1:10 p.m. after his parachute malfunctioned and he landed in the Hudson River during an aerial demonstration at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey,” the statement said.
“The service member was retrieved immediately by the U.S. Coast Guard personnel who were specifically standing by in vessels to support the event, and transported to Jersey City Medical Center for care.”
The demonstration was part of the services U.S. Navy Fleet Week celebration in New York.
“The accident was apparently caused by an equipment malfunction, though the specific nature and cause is currently unknown,” read a statement from the Naval Special Warfare Center at Naval Station Coronado, Calif.
“An investigation into the accident is already underway.”
Today’s we suffered a tragedy in NYC. Thoughts & prayers w/ family & Leapfrog team members. Condolences on behalf of entire @USNavy
— Adm. John Richardson (@CNORichardson) May 28, 2017
“Although our time with him was cut short, we are so grateful that we were blessed with such a positive and principled loving man,” read a statement from the family provided to USNI News.
“He is painfully missed. No words could do justice, but we are so grateful for all that he taught us, and all the love he gave us in his 27 wonderful years. Today, we honor our selfless, humble and quiet professional.”
Peters joined the Navy in 2008 and graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) in 2009. Before joining The Leap Frogs, Peters served in two SEAL units based on the West Coast, been on two combat deployments and jumped more than 900 times.
He is the third SEAL to be killed this year.
Senior Chief Kyle Milliken was killed during an operation in Somalia earlier this month. Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens, 36, of Peoria, Ill., died Jan. 29, 2017 during a raid of an Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Penisula base in Yemen.
The following is the complete Monday statement from Peters’ family.
Our beloved Remington Peters: the fallen SEAL from yesterday.
Words cannot begin to express our devastation and heartbreak over the passing of our courageous warrior.
His accomplishments far outweigh his years. Anyone that has ever had the pleasure of knowing Remi could attest to his fierce loyalty to his friends, family, and his country. He was an angel on earth and role model to all. We couldn’t have been more proud of him. He lived life to the fullest and taught us to do the same.
Although our time with him was cut short, we are so grateful that we were blessed with such a positive and principled loving man. He is painfully missed. No words could do justice, but we are so grateful for all that he taught us, and all the love he gave us in his 27 wonderful years. Today, we honor our selfless, humble and quiet professional.
The following is the complete Monday statement from the Naval Special Warfare Center
29 May 2017, 20:00PDT
CORONADO – Special Operator First Class Remington J. Peters, of Colorado, died of injuries sustained during an airborne demonstration for New York Fleet Week, Sunday.
Peters was a Navy SEAL who had been a member of the parachute team for more than a year. He is a veteran of 2 combat deployments and had more than 900 jumps.
The accident was apparently caused by an equipment malfunction, though the specific nature and cause is currently unknown. An investigation into the accident is already underway.
The Naval Special Warfare Center mourns the death of one of our expert Naval parachutists. Our primary concern now is to provide support and care for his family in their time of need as they being to grieve Remi’s death.
