By Mike McCombs
A U.S. Marine recruit was found dead Tuesday morning at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
According to Beaufort County Coroner David Ott, a recruit from 3rd Recruit Training Battalion was “found deceased at about 7:30 a.m., apparently from a fall from the balcony.” He said that is all the information that would be released at this time.
An autopsy is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston.
According to MCRD Parris Island spokesperson Capt. Philip Kulczewski, the incident is under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS). The recruit’s identity will be released 24 hours after the next of kin notification.
“Again, this incident is currently under investigation, no further details can be released at this time,” Kulczewski said in a statement. “The Marine Corps maintains high training standards as well as thorough safety precautions. All safety incidents are taken seriously.”
Tuesday’s death marks the second time this year a recruit has died at Parris Island.
Nineteen-year-old Dalton Beals of Pennsville, N.J. died in June while taking part in The Crucible, the extremely difficult exercise recruits undertake near the end of their training to become Marines. The more-than-two-day exercise concludes with a 9-mile hike.
Beals suffered heat injuries and could not be revived.
Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
