Nearly three months ago, Regina Mullen woke up to a parent’s worst nightmare, learning that her son Kyle unexpectedly died after what’s known as “Hell Week” training as a Navy SEAL candidate. The 24-year-old standout football star from Manalapan, New Jersey completed the grueling five days of underwater and tactical training during which trainees are deprived of sleep, food, and water, and are pushed to the limits. He died a few hours later. His grieving mother has been left grasping for answers and waiting for a medical examiner’s report that has yet to be completed.
Regina Mullen wants an independent investigation into her son’s death. She said she has been told that is not possible until after an investigation by the NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is complete, but “there’s no reason by they can’t be simultaneous,” she said. She believes her son died of SIPE (Swimming Induced Pulmonary Edema). “I was told that when he crossed ‘Hell Week’ that he was spitting up blood … My son died because he wasn’t monitored and they didn’t check him properly and they found him too late.”
In a statement to NJ Spotlight News, the Naval Special Warfare Command said multiple independent investigations are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding Kyle Mullen’s death. It said it’s inappropriate to speculate on the cause of death or contributing factors until those investigations are complete.
