Camp Lejeune Marine declared dead after falling overboard ship

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (WITN) - Officials say a Camp Lejeune Marine was pronounced dead after being lost in the Caribbean Sea.

21-year-old Lance Corporal Chukwuemeka Oforah was declared dead on Tuesday after officials said he fell overboard the USS Iwo Jima the night of February 7th.

His death comes after an extensive 72-hour multi-branch search and rescue operation.

Officials say Navy ships, an inflatable boat, and ten aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force were used in the search efforts.

Lance Cpl. Oforah was an infantry rifleman who enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2023.

He completed the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune and was part of the 22nd MEU.

Officials say the circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation.