Navy SEAL trainee who died after Hell Week succumbed to acute pneumonia and cardiac arrest, report says

WASHINGTON — A Navy SEAL candidate who died hours after he accomplished the grueling stretch of coaching often called Hell Week succumbed to acute pneumonia and cardiac arrest, in response to a army investigation obtained by NBC Information.

A Naval Particular Warfare Command Line of Obligation investigation, which was accomplished final month, discovered Seaman Kyle Mullen died within the line of obligation, not due to his personal misconduct. 

However the Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s post-mortem report, which is included within the investigative report, additionally discovered that when Mullen died in February, his coronary heart was greater than twice the conventional measurement. An electrocardiogram of his coronary heart 9 months earlier had discovered no abnormalities, in response to the Navy’s investigation.

Medical consultants who reviewed his case for the investigation had been cut up over whether or not his enlarged coronary heart was a aspect impact of the arduous coaching or probably as a result of the usage of efficiency enhancing medication, or PEDs, after drug paraphernalia had been discovered amongst his possessions.

When he died on Feb. 4, Mullen had simply accomplished the fourth week of Primary Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) coaching, generally often called Hell Week. Starting on a Sunday afternoon and ending Friday morning, Hell Week exposes candidates to excessive stress to simulate intense fight conditions, together with coaching in harsh environments, lengthy intervals of swimming in punishing chilly water and sleep deprivation.

Coaching to be a Navy SEAL is punishing, and Hell Week is amongst its hardest elements. Of the roughly 1,500 college students who enter BUD/S coaching yearly, solely about 250 full it, in response to the Navy.

It was Mullen’s second try to complete the BUD/S course after heatstroke derailed his first try in summer time 2021.

Throughout Hell Week, he had respiratory issues, together with fluid in his lungs, coughing and issue respiration, fast weight acquire and swelling in his legs, and disorientation, in response to the investigation. Medical professionals examined Mullen each day that week, however his signs had been widespread amongst lots of the candidates, and, in response to witnesses, he declined extra medical consideration for worry it will exclude him from finishing his coaching.

By the point he efficiently accomplished Hell Week, Mullen had gained 22 kilos from swelling and fluid retention, and he needed to return to the barracks in a wheelchair. Witnesses reported that he was coughing and spitting up red-tinged fluids and that by that afternoon he was bloated and gasping for air and that his pores and skin was turning blueish, a witness stated.

A number of hours later, paramedics discovered him unresponsive in his barracks. He died at a hospital that night.

In line with a number of witnesses interviewed for the investigation, signs like Mullen’s are widespread amongst candidates after Hell Week and don’t essentially increase suspicions amongst fellow sailors. A post-Hell Week temporary to college students warns “swelling of your extremities is typical” and might final for a number of days, and it recommends that they elevate their fingers and ft. The paramedics who discovered Mullen had been on the barracks responding to a different SEAL candidate who was additionally struggling to breathe.

A minimum of six different college students went to a Navy hospital over the 4 days after Hell Week, in response to the investigation.

The Armed Forces Medical Examiner post-mortem report didn’t discover efficiency enhancing medication contributed to Mullen’s demise, however it discovered his coronary heart weighed 700 grams, greater than double the usual for an grownup male.

A number of army medical professionals reviewed the paperwork about Mullen’s demise for the Naval Particular Warfare investigation, and whereas they agreed that he died from acute pneumonia, an enlarged coronary heart and finally cardiac arrest, they had been cut up over whether or not these signs precipitated his final coronary heart failure or had been warning indicators of his cardiac misery.

A number of of the consultants famous that use of steroids may cause an enlarged coronary heart. A Navy Bureau of Medication skilled wrote that persistent use of PEDs like recombinant development hormone and exogenous testosterone might be related to enlarged coronary heart and that “if [Seaman] Mullen had been utilizing these PEDs, then such use may have contributed to his irregular coronary heart mass and thickness on post-mortem,” including, “Nevertheless, it’s not possible to know the frequency or length of PED use by SN Mullen.” 

An expert consulted for the investigation stated different components contributing to Mullen’s demise included “the usage of prohibited efficiency enhancing medication (PEDs), doable swimming induced pulmonary edema (SIPE), and the rigorous bodily calls for of BUD/S Evaluation and Choice.”

Mullen’s coronary heart was 64.7% over the higher restrict of the vary for somebody of his age, health and construct, the report says, and anabolic steroid use is related to an enlarged coronary heart and sudden cardiac demise. One other medical skilled says PEDs can contribute to fluid retention and even susceptibility to an infection, however that can be in dispute, with a separate evaluation calling it “speculative.”

Mullen “was in possession of and suspected of misusing a number of PEDs,” a medical skilled wrote, together with Anastrobol, recombinant human development hormone and testosterone, all of which can be utilized to extend muscle mass. Drug paraphernalia had been amongst Mullen’s possessions after he died, however it’s unclear whether or not they belonged to him or one other candidate, in response to a number of folks accustomed to the investigation.

A number of witnesses and classmates interviewed for the investigation stated they’d no direct data that Mullen was utilizing PEDs.

‘Security issues’

Mullen’s demise and the following investigation have shed new gentle on the simmering concern of the usage of PEDs amongst elite members of the army, particularly throughout excessive coaching.

The commander of Naval Training and Coaching Command is conducting a separate investigation into the circumstances of Mullen’s demise, in addition to the broader points it raised, together with the usage of PEDs. The Navy expects to have some conclusions from the coaching command by the tip of the yr, a army official stated.

“Our deepest sympathy extends to Seaman Mullen’s household and pals throughout this troublesome time,” Rear Adm. Keith Davids, commander of Naval Particular Warfare Command, wrote in a press release. “NSW stays dedicated to transparency and we welcome the chance to evaluation our evaluation and choice applications, and assist us search for further methods to enhance and forestall this type of tragedy from occurring once more.

“Kyle’s demise won’t be in useless. We’ve got an ethical obligation to be taught every part we are able to from Kyle’s tragic demise in order that we are able to guarantee the security of all future candidates,” Davids wrote. 

Since Mullen’s demise, candidates are actually examined for PEDs at the least 5 instances throughout coaching. Simply two months after Mullen died, a candidate examined constructive for PEDs and was faraway from coaching, in response to the Navy.

After Mullen died, Naval Particular Warfare additionally started superior cardiology screening for all candidates. Of the 656 candidates who’ve undergone cardiac screening since February, two have been discovered unfit for full obligation due to cardiac points. Naval Particular Warfare additionally now offers candidates Bicillin to forestall pneumonia, it has prolonged the post-Hell Week medical statement time, and it’s working to increase its authority to check for PEDs.

Naval Particular Warfare stated “there was sufficient proof of PED use throughout the [training] class to lift security issues.” As of Sept. 22, Naval Particular Warfare stated, it had examined 1,244 personnel for PEDs after which eliminated 51 folks from coaching due to “security issues.”