Marine dies in 30-mile march over Dartmoor

A ROYAL Marine has collapsed and died during a gruelling training exercise on Dartmoor.

The young officer was taking part in a timed 30-mile march – the last major test in a 32-week training programme.

The man, who has not been named, collapsed j ust a few miles short of the finish line and died despite attempts to resuscitate him.

The Royal Navy website describes the exercise as ‘one of the hardest tests undertaken by any military force in the world’.

Recruits have to march across arduous Dartmoor terrain carrying equipment weighing a minimum of 32lb.

The course must be completed in eight hours for recruits and seven hours for Royal Marine officers. It is the finale of a week of tests that marks the culmination of Royal Marine training and includes endurance exercises, assault courses and a nine-mile speed march before successful candidates are awarded the famous green beret.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the cause of the man’s death was unknown, but it is understood that neither the weather conditions nor heat exhaustion played a role.

The spokesman added: ‘ This incident is being investigated and the thoughts and sympathies of the Naval service are with the family and friends of this man.’

The training exercise was abandoned as a result of the man’s death. The MoD would not release any further details about the incident, which happened at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, near Exeter, on Thursday.

The tragedy came as an inquest into the deaths of three Territorial Army soldiers during an SAS selection exercise in 2013 was due to open today.

Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, Private Edward Maher, 31, and Corporal James Dunsby, 31, collapsed from heat exhaustion while on a 40-mile march in the Brecon Beacons.

The challenge took place on July 13, one of the hottest days of 2013, when temperatures hit 29.5C (85F). The troops were carrying kit including a 50lb backpack, a rifle and ammunition.