Investigations continue into death of US Navy sailor in Abu Dhabi

Ryan Burris did not die in suspicious circumstances, but Americans have been asked to ‘take care’ in rural areas.

The US department of defence said Ryan Burris, 24, died in a non-combat incident in Zayed Military City. Courtesy Karen Burris

ABU DHABI // Investigations are under way into the death of US navy sailor Ryan Burris, who died in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The exact details of the petty officer’s death have not been released, but the US department of defence announced that “Ryan Burris, 24, died of injuries in a non-combat-related incident”, and that the incident was “still under investigation”.

Maj Tiffany Bowens of the department of defence said that there was no reason to believe that foul play had been involved and that more information would be released when the investigations were complete.

Burris was working on the naval special warfare grid in electronics and communications support.

He was temporarily assigned to the crisis response element of the joint special operations task force in the Arabian Peninsula to support Operation Inherent Resolve, the campaign to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL in the region.

Burris was from the Chicago suburb of Lisle and was on his first deployment overseas. He was celebrated and remembered in his hometown on Memorial Day on Tuesday.

There has been an outpouring of support for the Burris family on social media. Marty Auz, a friend, wrote on Burris’s mother’s Facebook page: “Gone but never forgotten … I know your heart is broken … but thank you for the sacrifice you made as his mom … love hugs and prayers to all of you.”

The US navy flew Burris's remains from the UAE to the United States. He will be laid to rest this week in his home state of Illinois, where he grew up. "There's a lot of patriotic heritage, we're very proud of our family," his mother, Karen Burris, told the Chicago Tribune.

“Every mother worries about her child. Well, this is always what he’s wanted to do. He wanted to follow his dreams and I was with him 100 per cent.

“I was really blessed to be his mom,” she said. “He was always putting others first. He was excited to be able to share good times with his friends and family.”

This week the US embassy in Abu Dhabi sent an email warning its citizens to take care in rural and remote areas after someone was hit by a vehicle while walking in Al Bahia.

“Due to a recent report of an individual who was hit repeatedly by a vehicle and seriously injured when walking on the road in Al Bahia, a rural area of Abu Dhabi, the US embassy cautions citizens to be aware of their surroundings when walking or exercising in remote and rural areas of Abu Dhabi, especially Al Bahia.

“Some areas do not have camera surveillance and are less frequently patrolled by the police. Carry your mobile phone with you at all times and call 999 for any emergency (police, fire or ambulance).”

The embassy also reminded people to be mindful of their surroundings, and to monitor local news outlets for updates.

It is unclear if this warning was prompted by Burris’s death.

Abu Dhabi Police declined to comment on the incident or the continuing investigation.