Army Trainee Dies After Collapsing During Running Drill on Third Day of Basic Training

A tragic incident occurred at an Army training base in South Korea, where a trainee, who had only been enlisted for three days, collapsed during a running drill and later died.

According to military officials, the incident took place around 7:30 AM on Thursday at an Army base in Haman, South Gyeongsang Province. The 20-year-old trainee had just completed morning roll call and was participating in a group running drill when he suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness.

The trainee received immediate CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) from an instructor on the scene and was rushed to a nearby hospital by an ambulance that responded to the emergency. Unfortunately, the trainee never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead around 6 PM that same day.

The military confirmed that the trainee’s health had been checked before the exercise and found ” no abnormalities.”

A military spokesperson explained, “Before the group run, each trainee’s health condition was evaluated, and only those deemed fit for the exercise participated.” The run was conducted under the supervision of a drill instructor (non-commissioned officer), and no unusual incidents were reported during the drill.

The trainee had enlisted just three days earlier, on Tuesday.

To ensure safety, the Army typically tracks the number of trainees and the total distance covered during group runs. Both military and police authorities are investigating the exact cause of the death, the circumstances surrounding the incident, and whether proper protocols were followed in responding to the emergency.

In light of recent deaths during running drills, there are increasing calls to reconsider the intensity of physical training for new recruits, especially those who are not yet physically conditioned. Experts warn that excessive running can put unnecessary strain on trainees’ bodies, potentially leading to fatal outcomes.