Navy SEAL candidate Seaman Kyle Mullen, 24, of Manalapan, NJ, dies after ‘Hell Week’ training

SAN DIEGO, California – One Navy SEAL candidate has died and a second is in the hospital after falling ill Friday just hours after the two successfully completed the grueling culmination of initial SEAL training known as “Hell Week.”

Both sailors were rushed to local hospitals hours after they began showing symptoms of illness.

On Sunday, the Navy identified Seaman Kyle Mullen, 24, of Manalapan, New Jersey, as the SEAL candidate who died. He was assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command in San Diego, California.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Seaman Mullen on their loss,” Rear Admiral HW Howard III, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, said in a statement.

Mullen was pronounced dead at 5:42 pm Pacific Standard Time Friday at Sharp Coronado Hospital in San Diego, authorities said. The cause of his death remains under investigation.

The name of the hospitalized SEAL candidate was not released, but they are in stable condition at Naval Medical Center San Diego, officials said.

“Two SEAL candidates, assigned to Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command, were taken to the hospital on February 4, several hours after their Basic Underwater Demolition (BUD/S) SEAL class successfully completed Hell Week, part of the first phase of the Navy SEAL Evaluation and Selection Pathway,” said a statement from the Navy Special Warfare Command.

“We are all saddened by the unfortunate passing of Kyle Mullen. As a member of our 2019 championship team, he will be remembered not only as a great player, but also as a great person and a great teammate,” said Kevin Callahan, head coach. head of football at Monmouth University, where Mullen played football, in a statement. “He was highly motivated on the field, but his maturity, intelligence and concern for his teammates is what makes Kyle stand out. On behalf of President Leahy and the entire Monmouth University community, we wish to offer our condolences to the family.” Mullen for his loss.”

Hell Week is the famous finale to the first phase of BUD/S training, where sailors who want to be SEALs are pushed to the brink of physical and mental exhaustion through a series of intense workouts. More than half of the SEAL candidates who go through Hell Week do not complete the grueling week of training that allows them to continue through the six months of SEAL training.

“Both Sailors were not actively training when they reported symptoms and were transported for emergency care,” the Navy statement added.

The last Navy SEAL candidate to die during BUD/S training was Seaman James Lovelace, 21, who drowned in a swimming pool during his first week of training in May 2016. After his drowning, the Navy instituted additional safety protocols for the swim program. .

“SEAL training takes you beyond your personal limits,” said Eric Oehlerich, a retired SEAL and ABC News contributor. “It’s designed to take you beyond your perception of what’s possible, breaking glass ceilings of what you’re capable of both mentally and physically.”

Oehlerich said he believes the difficult training of potential SEALs is conducted within proven medical limits and is conducted by highly trained professional instructors, but he acknowledged that there are risks involved in all types of military training.

“Training deaths do happen from time to time. Tragic as it is, adhering to the training curriculum keeps SEALs alive in combat,” he said. “It is necessary, it cannot be diluted.”

“Condolences to the trainee’s family,” Oehlerich said. “They will always be part of the community and we will always be there however we can.”