Lincoln native, Navy sailor, remains missing 2 days after going overboard

By: Chloe Leshner

Email: cleshner@abc6.com

Twitter: @CLeshnerABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Coast Guard and Navy are scouring the waters off of North Carolina for one of their own. The sailor is from Lincoln, Rhode Island and went overboard the USS Normandy on Tuesday. But searchers and family remain optimistic they’ll find him alive.

The Navy and Coast Guard have spent 48 hours searching roughly 2,500 square miles looking for Petty Officer Christopher Clavin who went overboard during a training exercise off the coast of North Carolina. He joined the Navy right after graduating from Lincoln High School in 2012.

Before his time on board the USS Normandy, 23 year old Clavin walked the halls of Lincoln High as a dedicated student.

"Chris was a very unassuming student, he was very quiet, reserved, worked hard and did well in school," says Lincoln HS Principal Kevin McNamara.

Clavin joined the navy right after graduating in 2012 and is now stationed in Norfolk, Virginia aboard the USS Normandy, a guided missile cruiser.

"We’re very, very proud of his service. He did a number of activities while at Lincoln High School and I think they all prepared him well to serve our country and we’re all very proud of his commitment to our nation," says McNamara.

The crew was training 80 nautical miles off the coast of North Carolina when he went overboard. Officials with the Navy say because of the water temperature and other weather conditions they’re still optimistic that he could be alive.

Family members we spoke to say that they also believe Chris is still alive and waiting to be found.

The Navy says its crews will be continue to scour the water by sea and by air with the help of the Coast Guard in search of Clavin.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017