Moroccan and U.S. armed forces said on Wednesday they found and retrieved the body of a second missing U.S. service member who went missing near a cliff after a training exercise near Cap Draa, Morocco.
The U.S. Army identified the remains of Specialist Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, an air and missile defense crew member in an artillery regiment. The body of the other soldier, 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. was recovered on May 9.
According to reports, one of the soldiers fell into the water during a hike along the oceanside cliffs after training that day had concluded. The other soldier purportedly jumped in to help, and initial rescue efforts for both failed.
The operation deployed extensive resources across land, sea and air, reflecting a coordinated response between Moroccan and US forces after the two soldiers were reported missing.
More than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel participated in the search for the two soldiers, with Collington located and retrieved from a coastal cave roughly 1,600 feet from where the pair reportedly entered the ocean.
A ceremony honoring the two deceased soldiers was held at the Guelmim military airport before their remains were repatriated to the United States aboard a U.S. military aircraft on the night of May 12.
The two U.S. service members were participating in African Lion, the U.S. Africa Command’s (AFRICOM) largest joint exercise between U.S. forces, NATO allies and African partner nations. The largest part of the exercise takes place in Morocco, involving approximately 5,000 personnel from more than 40 countries.
The United States has commended Moroccan authorities for the swift response, professionalism, and unwavering commitment demonstrated in the search and recovery operation.