Sailor Overcome by Fumes as Solvent Spills
One member of the battleship New Jersey’s crew was in serious condition and about two dozen others were taken to the Long Beach Naval Hospital or St. Mary Medical Center for observation after a five-gallon can of cleaning solvent spilled Wednesday, Navy officials said.
Overcome by fumes aboard the ship at Long Beach Naval Station was Patrick Wright of Arizona. Lt. Cmdr. Bill Clyde said Wright and a shipmate were moving the can of solvent up six decks from a forward locker to the ship’s dry cleaning plant when the leak occurred.
Clyde said Wright fell into the liquid when he lost consciousness, receiving-second degree burns on a shoulder and his buttocks.
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