Navy

'Disorientated' Royal Marines Recruit Found After Day-Long Search

Royal Marine Recruit Goes Missing: Found "Camping Out" A Day Later

An investigation is underway after a Royal Marines trainee went missing on Dartmoor for 24 hours. The 25 year-old was taking part in a navigation exercise when he disappeared.

A massive search and rescue operation was launched to find him involving the Royal Navy and police helicopters, dog teams, Dartmoor Search and Rescue and the police.

A police spokesman said the alarm was raised at 4.45pm on Wednesday after the exercise had finished. The trainee was found at 10.30am the next day.

He was discovered walking back to the start point of the exercise at Ringmoor Down. It’s reported he had camped out on a farm near Yelverton overnight.

A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from 771 Squadron at RNAS Culdrose was involved in the hunt for the missing man, who was ‘disorientated’ when he was found.

An inquiry into what happened is now underway, according to a spokesman for the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone near Exeter.

A Royal Navy spokesperson explained the process :

"The exercise is designed to develop and test key skills we expect for our personnel. Safety instructions were in place and individuals briefed accordingly."

Dartmoor is a regular training site for the Royal Marines. It’s the location of the gruelling ‘30-miler’ – a march in full kit which takes place at the end of the 32 week training programme. This incident was not believed to be during that particular exercise.

The safety of the commando trainee programme has been brought into question following the death of a Marine earlier this year on Dartmoor.

The spokesperson concluded:

"Instructions would include recruits seeking shelter when necessary, and using their spare warm clothing and ‘bivi bag. Trainees also carry food, water and a cooker. On this occasion, the training took place in poor weather conditions, but the individual applied his training and was found safe and well."

The course is largely regarded as the most arduous basic training programme in the world.

Royal Marines argue it is a necessary evil in order to select only the most elite to wear the green beret.

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