Navy Seal who drowned during gruelling training exercise was homicide victim, says coroner

A NAVY SEAL who drowned after being repeatedly “dunked” taking part in a training exercise has had his death ruled to be homicide.

James “Derek” Lovelace, 21, was taking part in “drown-proofing” tests at the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California when the incident happened in May.

On Wednesday a coroners report which was released in San Diego, US, ruled his death as “drowning homicide” after he found the instructor who was on duty, to have been “excessive” with aspects of the training.

According to the autopsy report seen by Mail Online, his lips were turning blue as he tried to stay above water.

The supervisor has since been removed after Lovelace’s death and is doing other duties.

The training included being handcuffed while treading water – after he lost consciousness he was taken to a hospital where he died.

Dr. Kimi Verilhac, a forensic pathologist said in the report: “The actions, and inactions, of the instructors and other individuals involved were excessive and directly contributed to the death, and the manner of death is best classified as homicide.”

The official cause of death was drowning homicide with contributing heart problems.

The medical examiner’s report stated the SEAL trainees  were taking part in the “combat tread” which is part of the incredibly tough Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs training course.

They have to tread water wearing camouflage uniforms, and instructors are advised not to dunk the trainees or pull them under the water.

However Lovelace was repeatedly dunked, and he was also splashed with water – the report says he went underneath a number of times in five minutes.

In a video, another student can be seen trying to help him keep above water.