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SAN DIEGO — A Navy SEAL candidate died Friday and another one was hospitalized in San Diego after they successfully completed a grueling training phase called Hell Week, Navy officials said Saturday.
The two candidates, assigned to Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command, were hospitalized on Friday, “several hours after their Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL class completed Hell Week,” KGTV-TV reported. The training session is the initial phase of training for one of the U.S. military’s most elite units.
Update 12:45 p.m. EST Feb. 6: The Navy confirmed in a statement that Seaman Kyle Mullen, 24, of Manalapan, New Jersey, died at 5:42 p.m. PST on Friday.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to Seaman Mullen’s family for their loss,” Rear Adm. H.W. Howard III, commander, Naval Specia Warfare Command, said in a statement. “We are extending every form of support we can to the Mullen family and Kyle’s BUD/S classmates.”
Navy Confirms Name of Deceased SEAL Candidate: pic.twitter.com/oS5PL935RE
— Kristina Wong 🇺🇸 (@kristina_wong) February 6, 2022
Original report: In a statement, Naval Special Warfare Command said that the cause of the SEAL candidate’s death is currently unknown and is under investigation, CNN reported. The injured candidate is in stable condition, according to NBC News.
A Navy SEAL candidate died Friday and a second was hospitalized after completing what is known as Hell Week, an initial, grueling phase of training for the military unit. https://t.co/cExMmpHd5x
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 6, 2022
The sailors were not actively training when they reported symptoms, according to the Navy’s statement. They were taken to area hospitals to receive emergency care, NBC News reported.
>> Navy SEAL team commander dies after training exercise in Virginia Beach
During Hell Week, SEAL candidates participate in high-intensity training exercises and are given little opportunity to sleep, according to CNN. During five days of training, candidates are constantly cold, hungry and wet.
At least 50% to 60% of trainees do not complete Hell Week, according to The Associated Press.
My prayers are with the family & loved ones of the deceased during this very difficult time, & I wish for a full recovery of the other candidate reported injured yesterday. These courageous sailors were on their way to becoming some of our country’s most elite military personnel. https://t.co/riKvlEe1rq
— Rep. Scott Peters (@RepScottPeters) February 6, 2022
The last SEAL candidate to die during the assessment phase was Seaman James Derek Lovelace, 21, in 2016, NBC News reported. He was struggling to tread water in full gear in a giant pool when his instructor pushed him underwater at least twice, the AP reported. He lost consciousness and died.
Navy records showed that he was the fifth trainee in four months to lose consciousness during a pool exercise, NBC News reported.
The latest death comes after a Navy SEAL commander died from injuries he suffered during a training accident in Virginia Beach. Cmdr. Brian Bourgeois, 43, who commanded SEAL Team 8, fell while fast-roping from a helicopter in Virginia Beach and died Dec. 7, 2021, in a Norfolk, Virginia, hospital, WAVY-TV reported.
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