Report: SEALs drowned while practicing holding their breath

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Virginia Beach, Va. • Navy documents say that two SEALs who drowned in a Virginia training pool were practicing holding their breath underwater after being told not to do so by the facility's manager.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that it obtained the documents through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Thirty-four-year-old Brett Allen Marihugh of Livonia, Michigan, and 32-year-old Seth Cody Lewis of Queens, New York, died in April at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in April.

A report by Rear Adm. Brian Losey, commander of Navy Special Warfare Command, said the men "drowned during off-hour physical conditioning in a combat swimmer trainer facility because they knowingly disregarded breath holding safety guidance." He wrote that such activity should take place only under supervision and with appropriate life-saving equipment on hand.