From USAToday:
WASHINGTON — More Navy SEALs have died in training over the last three years than in combat or from combat-related wounds, according to records kept by the Navy SEAL Foundation, a nonprofit group based in Virginia Beach, Va.
Since 2013 through last week, nine SEALs have died in training, including Seaman James Derek Lovelace, a 21-year-old trainee who died May 6.
Four SEALs died in training in the first four months of 2015, records show, while another three died in early 2013. That’s compared to four SEAL deaths from combat or service-connected wounds during the same period, the foundation records show.
In the latest instance, a Navy spokesman said on Tuesday that Lovelace was pulled out of a pool at a SEAL facility in Coronado, Calif., and transported to a civilian hospital after showing signs of trouble swimming.
Lovelace and his cohort from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training Class 319 were doing a pool familiarization exercise in their first week of training in Coronado, Calif., Naval Special Warfare Center spokesman Lt. Trevor Davids said, treading water in camouflage uniforms and dive masks.
But NBC News and the Virginian-Pilot reported on Friday that Lovelace, of Crestview, Fla., may have been held underwater during a training exercise by an instructor.
The report cites source, including "two family members of SEAL students who were present during the incident and a former SEAL who's coaching a student through the course" who said "Lovelace had been held underwater before passing out." None of the source was an eyewitness to Lovelace's death.
The NBC/Virginian-Pilot report said a Navy spokesman did not immediately respond to questions and that the early "findings of an autopsy by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office indicate Lovelace drowned, though the investigation of cause of death is ongoing. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating, as is the case after any training death."
Contributing: Navy Times
WASHINGTON — More Navy SEALs have died in training over the last three years than in combat or from combat-related wounds, according to records kept by the Navy SEAL Foundation, a nonprofit group based in Virginia Beach, Va.
Since 2013 through last week, nine SEALs have died in training, including Seaman James Derek Lovelace, a 21-year-old trainee who died May 6.
Four SEALs died in training in the first four months of 2015, records show, while another three died in early 2013. That’s compared to four SEAL deaths from combat or service-connected wounds during the same period, the foundation records show.
In the latest instance, a Navy spokesman said on Tuesday that Lovelace was pulled out of a pool at a SEAL facility in Coronado, Calif., and transported to a civilian hospital after showing signs of trouble swimming.
Lovelace and his cohort from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training Class 319 were doing a pool familiarization exercise in their first week of training in Coronado, Calif., Naval Special Warfare Center spokesman Lt. Trevor Davids said, treading water in camouflage uniforms and dive masks.
But NBC News and the Virginian-Pilot reported on Friday that Lovelace, of Crestview, Fla., may have been held underwater during a training exercise by an instructor.
The report cites source, including "two family members of SEAL students who were present during the incident and a former SEAL who's coaching a student through the course" who said "Lovelace had been held underwater before passing out." None of the source was an eyewitness to Lovelace's death.
The NBC/Virginian-Pilot report said a Navy spokesman did not immediately respond to questions and that the early "findings of an autopsy by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office indicate Lovelace drowned, though the investigation of cause of death is ongoing. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating, as is the case after any training death."
Contributing: Navy Times
