Xavier Martin, Navy Sailor, Killed Aboard USS Fitzgerald

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — A Navy sailor who died at sea in a ship crash this week was a graduate of Lansdowne High School, officials say.

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Xavier Alec Martin, 24, of Halethorpe, was one of seven service members killed when the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald was involved in a collision with the Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Crystal, according to the U.S. 7th Fleet Public.

According to the Navy, the ship was involved in a collision with a merchant vessel around 2:20 a.m. local time on Saturday, though details surrounding the incident are unclear.

• Maryland Navy Sailor Killed In USS Fitzgerald Collision

Darrold Martin — Xavier Martin's father — received a communication from his son through the app WhatsApp 36 minutes after the crash, according to WBAL. He told the TV station that he and his son were very close, with matching tattoos that say: "We will figure it out."

Officials said the remains of seven sailors previously reported missing, including Xavier Martin, were located in flooded berthing compartments of the ship, after divers gained access to the damaged spaces on Sunday.

It was not determined when the bodies of the sailors would return to the U.S.

Martin was an alumnus of Lansdowne High School (class of 2010), then joined the Navy, with stints in Guam and Japan, according to The Baltimore Sun.

His father reportedly said: "He was a patriot."

Patch Editors Feroze Dhanoa and Deb Belt contributed to this story.

Image via U.S. Navy