A Marine recruit who sources say jumped from a one-story building at boot camp in South Carolina has been discharged from the hospital after nearly two months in treatment and administratively separated from the Marine Corps.
Officials with Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island have not revealed the name of the recruit, who was hospitalized July 26 after falling from the roof of the building just a day after arriving at the base to begin training.
A source with knowledge of the investigation into the incident told Military.com the recruit had been witnessed jumping from the receiving building and appearing to land on his head.
"The recruit was treated for injuries sustained during the fall at an off-site medical facility and was discharged from the hospital on Sept. 20," Capt. Adam Flores, a Parris Island spokesman, told Military.com. "While the recruit was being treated for his injuries, the decision was made to process him for administrative separation. His discharge was dated Sept. 20 to coincide with his release from the hospital."
The Marine Corps is not releasing details about the injuries the recruit sustained out of respect for his family and in accordance with privacy regulations, he said.
If the recruit did jump, he would be the third Parris Island recruit in a little more than a year to do so.
In October 2016, 19-year-old recruit Kristian Gashaj was hospitalized and eventually entered a coma after reportedly jumping from the second floor of a Parris Island building just four days after arriving at the base to begin training. As of June, he remained in a coma.
And in March 2016, Raheel Siddiqui, a 20-year-old recruit, reportedly jumped to his death from the third floor of a Parris Island barracks building after beginning training with 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. Investigations into that tragedy would uncover allegations of hazing by drill instructors within the battalion, and ultimately lead to criminal charges for some.
There were no allegations of hazing in the case of Gashaj.
Flores said travel arrangements were made to send the unidentified recruit from the hospital to his home of record after his Sept. 20 discharge.
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family during this time," he said.
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
