Navy SEAL candidate dies during water training
James Derek Lovelace, a 21-year-old Navy SEAL candidate, died last week during a water training exercise in Coronado.
Reporting from SAN DIEGO — A Navy SEAL candidate has died after passing out during a pool exercise in the first week of the rigorous training program in Coronado.
James Derek Lovelace, 21, of Crestview, Fla., died Friday. He was trying to become a SEAL at the six-month course known as Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL.
Navy officials said safety observers saw that Lovelace was having trouble during an introductory water familiarization exercise in the training pool. Instructors helped him to the pool’s edge, where he lost consciousness.
Resuscitation efforts and first aid at the scene were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at a hospital.
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The exercise in question comes during the first week of SEAL training. The purpose is to assess and develop students’ competency, confidence and safety in the water, officials said in a prepared statement.
The tasks involved are treading water and swimming while wearing diving masks and a camouflage utility uniform.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Seaman Lovelace,” Capt. Jay Hennessey, commanding officer of the SEALs’ Naval Special Warfare Center, said in the statement.
“Though Derek was very new to our community, he selflessly answered his nation’s call to defend freedom and protect this country. He will be sorely missed. We share in his family’s grief from this great loss.”
SEAL officials said they are conducting an investigation into the accident. They could not immediately say when the last death was among trainees in the program. Two decorated SEALs died in April 2015 while practicing breath-holding techniques at a training pool in Virginia Beach, Va.
jeanette.steele@sduniontribune.com
Steele writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
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