Navy SEAL dies in parachute training accident in Southern California
A skydiver who died parachute training in Perris on Wednesday was a Navy SEAL, according to media reports.
UPDATE: Navy SEAL killed during parachute training identified
The Associated Press reports that two anonymous sources confirmed the person who died after the parachute malfunctioned was a member of the elite Navy group.
The sailor, who was assigned to a West Coast Naval Special Warfare unit, died from injuries sustained during parachute training, according to a statement from the Coronado-based Naval Special Warfare Group 1.
Chief Brandon Raile, a Navy spokesman, confirmed the sailor’s death was during a military training exercise. His name had not yet been released because the family had to be notified, Raile said.
Riverside County fire crews responded at 9:08 a.m. to the scene of the accident, a rural area near Richard Street and Highway 74. No one else was injured, authorities said.
Television news footage showed an American flag covering the victim’s remains, with a parachute nearby.
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