Second Woman in Two Months Dies at Illinois Naval Boot Camp
Shane Trejo
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A woman, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy, passed away while performing her physical fitness test last week. This is the second such death in as many months at the same Illinois boot camp.
While undergoing boot camp at the Navy Recruit Training Center in Great Lakes, IL, Kelsey Nobles, who was a native of Mobile, Alabama, died last week suffering cardiac arrest. She was only 18 years of age.
“Kelsey was highly respected and admired by her classmates, teachers and peers,” said Baker High School, where Nobles had recently graduated, in a public statement. “She made a remarkable impact on the Class of 2018 as well as Baker High School. Kelsey will be greatly missed.”
“She just passed out after her last PT (fitness exam) and couldn’t be revived,” her father Harold said before adding that his daughter was “just full of energy. She would give anyone anything, her last her dollar. She was the sweetest soul. That’s the best way I can describe her.”
This is unfortunately far from an isolated incident, as it is the second instance where a woman died during basic training at the same facility in only two months.
20-year-old Kierra Evans fell over a week before she was scheduled to graduate from Navy boot camp. She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
“The Navy and Recruit Training Command take the welfare of our sailors very seriously and are investigating the cause of this tragic loss,” said Lt. Joseph Pfaff, a spokesman for the command. “Our thoughts are with Seaman Recruit Evans’ family and friends during this tragic time.”
Nobles’ distraught father is still searching for answers in lieu of his daughter’s untimely, sudden death.
“For me, I’m just like what’s wrong?” Harold Nobles told WKRG-TV. “These young people are so excited about serving their country and going into the military. Are they doing enough to check them? Does physical testing need to be more in-depth?”
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