Navy SEAL in training dies during water exercises in California

CORONADO, Calif., May 11 (UPI) -- A 21-year-old Navy SEAL student from Florida died during his first week of underwater demolition training in California, the U.S. Navy said.

James Derek Lovelace of Crestview, Fla., died on Friday. The Navy said safety observers noticed Lovelace was having difficulty during water familiarization exercises before pulling him out of the pool. Resuscitation efforts and first aid were attempted unsuccessfully after he lost consciousness.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of SN Lovelace," Capt. Jay Hennessey, commanding officer of the Naval Special Warfare Center, said in a Navy statement. "Though Derek was very new to our community, he selflessly answered his nation's call to defend freedom and protect this country."

An investigation is underway.

The water familiarization exercise is performed during the first week of training to "assess and develop students' competency, confidence and safety in the water. During the exercise students tread water and swim in a pool while wearing diving masks and a camouflage utility uniform."

Lovelace's death follows that of Arizona native Charlie Keating IV, a Navy SEAL who was killed by the Islamic State near Mosul, Iraq, during combat. Keating, 31, is the third American combat casualty in Iraq since the United States redeployed forces in the summer of 2014 to conduct special operations against the Islamic State and to advise and train the Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga.