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Navy service member recovered from College Creek identified

Walter James Torres, Jr., 25, stationed aboard the USS San Francisco, disappeared in the water near Colonial Parkway, JCC police said. His body was recovered.

JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WVEC) -- Police have identified the U.S. Navy service member who went under the water in College Creek Friday afternoon and did not resurface.

According to a news release, witnesses reported that Walter James Torres, Jr., 25, stationed aboard the USS San Francisco, was approximately 50 yards offshore attempting to swim to a sandbar with friends.

Torres reportedly began to struggle and a friend attempted to grab him, but Torres went under and did not resurface, the release said.

Around 6:30 p.m. officials recovered Torres' body.

Emergency workers were trying to locate him in the creek in the 1200 block of Colonial Parkway. According to police, at 4 p.m. the rescue operation turned into a recovery mission.

Crews on scene include James City County Police, Fire and EMS, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Park Service, Virginia Marine Police and the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office.

The Colonial Parkway is closed in the area of College Creek.

READ MORE: Signs posted around College Creek, following previous drownings

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