Sailor Presumed Drowned Found Alive

Wednesday, February 7th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) â€” A Navy sailor who vanished while aboard a guided missile cruiser and was presumed drowned off the Virginia coast had been hiding in a storeroom for a week, the Navy said.

The Navy said it is investigating.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin Corr, 27, emerged Tuesday night from a storeroom on the USS Cape St. George, sought out the ship's chaplain and was admitted to sickbay, the Navy said. He was reported in stable condition Wednesday.

The Navy would not comment on whether he had water, food or toilet facilities while he was in hiding.

Corr had failed to report to his duty station during a drill Jan. 31 about 20 miles off Virginia. More than 2,000 Navy and Coast Guard personnel aboard eight ships, two cutters and three helicopters searched for him for two days before giving up.

Corr's family in Troy, Mich., had started arranging a memorial service when Navy officers arrived to inform them that he was alive.

``I have to consider it a miracle,'' said Corr's father, Bobby Corr. ``Everyone's been praying for him.'' He said the ship's captain told the family that they would be able to talk with their son soon.

Corr will be taken off the vessel by helicopter and transferred to a Navy hospital, the Navy said.

Officials would not comment on whether he faced any punishment.

``It would be inappropriate to comment on what may or may not happen until the facts are known. Right now we are focusing on getting him the proper medical attention,'' Cmdr. Dennis Moynihan said.