This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/01/royal-marine-trainee-dies-on-dartmoor-exercise

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Royal Marine trainee dies on Dartmoor exercise Royal Marine trainee dies on Dartmoor exercise
(about 9 hours later)
A Royal Marine trainee has collapsed and died on an exercise in Dartmoor, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. An investigation is under way after a Royal Marine trainee collapsed and died during a 30-mile exercise on Dartmoor.
The man, who has not been named, was based at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon, and was taking part in a 30-mile march. The man, who has not been named at the request of his family, was understood to have been close to completing his stint at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon.
An MoD spokesman said the cause of death was unknown. The man died on Thursday during the so-called “30-miler” march across upland Dartmoor, the last major test undertaken as part of the 32-week commando course.
He said: “This incident is being investigated and the thoughts and sympathies of the Naval Service are with the family and friends of this man.” A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the cause of death was unknown, although it is believed unlikely that weather conditions or heat exhaustion played a role. He said: “This incident is being investigated and the thoughts and sympathies of the Naval Service are with the family and friends of this man.”
The man died on Thursday during the so-called “30-miler” march across upland Dartmoor, the last major test undertaken as part of the 32-week Commando course. The MoD would not release further details about the incident, although the Western Morning News reported that the man collapsed just a few miles short of the finish line.
Trainees must navigate the route themselves and complete it within eight hours while carrying additional safety equipment. In an unrelated incident on Thursday’s march, another recruit is understood to have received minor injuries.
The MoD said the name and details of the man who died were not being released, at the request of his family. The commando course ends with a week-long series of tests including the 30-mile march, endurance courses, a ‘Tarzan’ course, and a nine-mile speed march.
In July 2013, army reservists Edward Maher, Craig Roberts and James Dunsby died after collapsing during an SAS training exercise in the Brecon Beacon in Wales. An inquest into their deaths is expected to begin on Monday. For the 30-mile test, recruits march across upland Dartmoor, wearing full fighting kit, and additional safety equipment carried in a daysack. They must complete it carrying at least 32lbs (15kg) of equipment in a maximum time of eight hours (seven hours for officers).
In July 2013, army reservists Edward Maher, Craig Roberts and James Dunsby died after collapsing during an SAS training exercise in the Brecon Beacon in Wales. An inquest into their deaths was expected to begin on Monday.
A number of other soldiers taking part in the programme that day, when temperatures hit 29C (84F), also collapsed and needed medical attention.A number of other soldiers taking part in the programme that day, when temperatures hit 29C (84F), also collapsed and needed medical attention.