Marine Corps: Parris Island recruit falls from building, hospitalized

A recruit on his or her second day at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island fell off the roof of a one-story building Wednesday and has been hospitalized, the depot said in a news release.

The recruit arrived on base Tuesday and was assigned to Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, depot spokesman Capt. Adam Flores said Thursday afternoon. The age and gender of the recruit was not released because the family of the recruit was in the process of being notified and an investigation is ongoing, he said. Part of the investigation is to determine whether the fall was accidental or not.

The recruit was beginning initial processing, which includes obtaining gear, paperwork and haircuts for male recruits.

The base would not divulge the extent of the recruit’s injuries nor the location of the off-site medical facility where treatment was being administered, Flores said.

“The command is currently focused on the recruit's health and is in close coordination with the family,” the depot statement said.

This is the third recruit in 16 months to fall from a building at the depot.

Kristian Gashaj, an 18-year-old recruit from Michigan fell from a two-story building in October 2016 and was still in a coma as of June. Gashaj had been at the depot for only four days when he fell.

Raheel Siddiqui, a 20-year-old recruit, also from Michigan, fell from a three-story building in March 2016 and died from his injuries. Siddiqui was in his 11th day at the depot.

Investigations concluded that both Gashaj’s and Siddiqui’s falls were intentional jumps, but families of both men have disputed those reports.

This story was originally published July 27, 2017 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Marine Corps: Parris Island recruit falls from building, hospitalized."