Paratrooper killed during training jump

A Belgian paratrooper died late Tuesday night during a training jump into a portion of the Barry M. Goldwater Range according to the Public Affairs Office at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the parajumper lost in this tragic accident,” stated MCAS Yuma Commanding Officer, Col. David Suggs. “We at MCAS Yuma stand ready to provide assistance and support.”

At approximately 10:40 p.m., following a high-altitude training jump over Range 2301 West, Belgian Special Operations Forces requested assistance from MCAS Yuma Search and Rescue (SAR) to help locate one of their paratroopers

Nearly three hours later, at about 1:20 a.m., a SAR helicopter located the deceased paratrooper and recovered his remains. His body was then transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center.

The incident is currently under investigation. The name of the paratrooper has not been released, and

it is not known if the accident will trigger a training stand-down.

The Belgium Lights Brigade is currently in Yuma as part of a three-week exercise named “Belgium Beast.”

Part of the training includes paratroopers practicing

both high and low parachute openings and day and night infiltrations to reach the target, sometimes with oxygen masks and sometimes without, depending on the altitude.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. FACEBOOK.COM/YSJAMESGILBERT or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.