A Royal Marine is in hospital in a critical condition after an incident during training on a beach in Cornwall.
The man is reported to have been found face-down in the water while his platoon were bailing out an assault boat at Tregantle beach.
His next of kin have been informed. An MoD spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident involving a member of the Royal Marines in Plymouth.
"The next of kin have been informed and we ask for privacy for the family as this sad time."
The BBC says recruits were practising a beach assault yesterday when the recruit got into trouble in the water.
A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service, said: “South Western Ambulance Service was called on Tuesday at 10.01pm about an incident at Tregantle Beach, Cornwall.
“The caller reported to us that a person had gone underwater. We sent land, air and other specialist paramedics to attend the incident.
“They treated a male patient at the scene and he was conveyed by air ambulance for further care.”
The man is at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
He is reported tpo have been given CPR by fellow recruits on the beach.
A source told the Sun: “We were doing a tactical beach landing at Tregantle, and ‘Out Troops’ was called.
“The recruits got off and then went up to their eyeballs in water. It was below freezing and they were all over the place so the crew recovered them.”
The beach, near Plymouth, is regularly used by the Marines for exercises.
The beach storm drill is one of the final exercises in the Royal Marines' training and takes place a month before the course’s end, according to a source.
An investigation has been launched into the incident, the Royal Navy confirmed.
