x
Breaking News
More () »

Orange Park sailor dies after being struck by helicopter rotor in California

An Orange Park man died Saturday in California after being struck by a spinning helicopter blade, according to media reports.

An Orange Park man died Saturday in California after being struck by a spinning helicopter blade, according to media reports.

Navy Lt. James E. Mazzuchelli, 32, succumbed to his injuries Saturday after the incident occurred February 21 at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in California, where he was struck by the tail rotor of a UH-1Y Venom helicopter, according to Military.com.

According to family, there will be a memorial service for James on Camp Pendleton at the Marine Memorial Chapel at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27. All are invited to attend.

Additionally, there will be a funeral mass for James at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fleming Island, Florida. A date and time have yet to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family has encouraged support to these two charities in lieu of flowers:

Semper Fi Fund and United Network for Organ Sharing, which has a 10,000 square foot memorial building to honor those who have donated organs and their families. The building is supported by donations.

Mazzuchelli was a flight surgeon assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 out of that station.

First Coast News spoke with James's step-father David Cheers. Cheers said he's been amazed at the amount of support he's received from friends and amazed at how many circles his step-son was a part of throughout his life.

“James had two passions he found: His first was medicine, he loved medicine, he loved the science he loved problem-solving, and he’s always had a love of flying,” Cheers said.

He’d find that passion as a Flight Paramedic with the Navy, but it wasn’t until after he completed his degree in business from Drexel University that he decided to pursue that dream.

“He decided that wasn’t going to serve his need to help people like he wanted to, so he knew that if he went into medicine, he could learn how to help people, really help people and have the ability to change people’s lives with his knowledge," Cheers said.

Cheers said James served his country, Marine Light Attack Squadron 267 and fellow crewman as equals along the way.

But despite pursuing his passion, James wanted more, it was in his nature. Cheers said James could’ve stayed a flight surgeon on the ground, but instead choose to take classes to be an airman, allowing him to fly alongside other crew and treat patients in the air and on the ground as an aircrewman.

Always wanting more, he earned his wings two months before this accident.

"He lived life to his fullest and my takeaway is live life to its fullest," Cheers said. "Hug your kidsevery dayy, tell them you're proud of them every day and remember that tomorrow not promised, that's my takeaway."

"Lt. James Mazzuchelli was an incredibly talented physician and Sailor," Col. Matthew Mowery, commanding officer of MAG-39, said in a statement. "His contagious enthusiasm, motivation, and love for the Marines and Sailors of HMLA-267 and MAG-39 has been evident in the outpouring of grief at his loss and the support being shown to his family and close friends."

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Before You Leave, Check This Out