Naval Academy Midshipman From Texas Dies in Fall at Chile Waterfall - Officials

The body of a 21-year-old Naval Academy midshipman from Texas was found in a lagoon of the Chile waterfall Salto El Agua in the Valparaiso Region.

The Texas native was identified as Luke Gabriel Bird, who was a midshipman Second Class, according to The Daily Wire report.

Vice Adm. Sean Buck, 63rd Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, released a statement regarding Bird's death, offering condolences to the midshipman's family, friends, and fellow midshipmen.

Bird was enrolled at Chile's Naval Academy, which is the Arturo Prat Naval Academy. He was training in a semester abroad program where he served in the 20th and Second Companies.

He lived in New Braunfels, Texas. He used to attend New Braunfels High School and was involved in sports and other extracurricular activities.

Officials said that he is survived by his mother Audra Courter and stepfather Matthew Craig Courter; his father Chad Bird and stepmother Stacy Bird, among others.

Naval Academy Midshipman Falling At Chile Waterfall

Bird died in Chile after he seemed to have lost his footing during a hike and fell over a waterfall.

NBC News reported that he was hiking with a Chilean Naval Academy student in Placilla, Chile when he reportedly stumbled and fell over the waterfall.

Bird's body was found by the waterfall the next morning. However, it was not immediately clear why authorities took about 24 hours to find his body.

The Naval Academy has yet to comment on the matter.

Bird is the second midshipman with the Naval Academy to have died in just less than two months. Taylor Connors, 24, died on June 7 by suicide, according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

Connors enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2016 before getting a Secretary of the Navy nomination for an appointment to the Naval Academy. The 24-year-old midshipman was from Pleasant View, Utah.

Naval Academy Midshipman Luke Gabriel Bird

Friends and family shared how they all remembered Bird. His father Chad Bird wrote on Facebook how his son was "everything a father would want in a son, and so much more."

He used to be in his high school's wrestling team and served as captain during his junior and senior years.

In addition, Bird served as the vice president of the National Honor Society and was in student government and a battalion commander of his high school's Marine Corps JROTC unit.

Sacramento Bee reported that Bird received a Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement, which acknowledges "outstanding achievement in both scholastic and military subjects."

The award also recognizes the "outstanding leadership demonstrated in both school and in the community." He was one of the five Marine Corps JROTC cadets to have been given the award.

Bird majored in ocean engineering while participating in the Semper Fi Society and played intramural sports at the naval academy. He also got the Marksman Rifle Qualification and Sharpshooter Pistol Qualification badges.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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