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Sailor Dies After Training Swim

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A student in the Navy’s basic underwater demolition school died after losing consciousness near the finish of a 5.5-mile training swim off San Clemente Island.

John Joseph Tomlinson, 22, of Altoona, Pa., was within 50 yards of completing the swim just before 9 a.m. when he passed out, Navy Cmdr. David Dillon said.

Tomlinson was pulled from the water by his swimming partner, who gave him cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Dillon said.

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He was taken by Coast Guard helicopter to UC San Diego Medical Center, where he died Monday afternoon without regaining consciousness, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The cause of death is being investigated, Dillon said, adding that Tomlinson had no health problems.

“These people are monitored all the time and a serious problem would have been apparent,” he said.

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Tomlinson, a hospital corpsman third class, was in his 17th week of the 25-week training that leads to becoming a Navy Seal.

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