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Date Published: 10/06/2021
ARCHIVED - Military parachutist dies in exercise off La Manga del Mar Menor
Two military parachutists who were participating in a training exercise ended up in the Mediterranean this Thursday (June 10)
Two military parachutists, or paratroopers, from the national Army were participating in a training exercise as part of the Special Operations course when they landed in the Mediterranean off La Manga del Mar Menor at around midday on Thursday (June 10).
The emergency services received a phone call alerting them to the situation at around 12.50 pm and an ambulance was quickly dispatched to the scene. Members of the Army rescued the two paratroopers, one of whom was found floating face down and unconscious in the water and took him immediately to the Santa Lucía hospital in Cartagena, but medical staff were unable to save him.
An ambulance was ready at the scene to attend to the second parachutist, but he was retrieved from the water without difficulty and did not require medical assistance.
The deceased, 34-year-old Rafael Gallart, originally from Hellín, in Albacete, had been in the Army since 2008 and had received a White Cross of Military Merit Badge, having been promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2020.
A statement from the Ministry of Defence said he had "given his life for Spain".
Image: Ministry of Defence
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