MIAMI -- Investigators want to know
how a 13-year-old cadet taking part in a
military boot camp died at Oleta State
Park.
Authorities responding to the scene at 3
a.m. Saturday rushed the child to a
hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The child
was camping with 33 other cadets from
the Back to Basics Military Academy in
Lauderhill as part of an orientation
camping trip at the park.
The
retreat provides team building skills,
leadership development and physical
fitness, said the school's principal,
Lynda Brown.
A group
called Juvenile Military Training and
Leadership Corp., which is contracted
through the school, led the retreat. The
retreat was held in the park's youth
camping area, and the students set up
tents in woods near the beach.
The
cadets trained with their drill
instructors through the rugged trail and
shoreline doing exercises such as
push-ups and sit-ups, Brown said.
"They run
along the beach, and on the last night
they had competition on the beach," she
said. "These are trained, certified
drill sergeants (who) work with our
children."
The
school's principal said the boy woke up
in the middle of the night and said he
didn't feel well. He collapsed on the
way to the restroom.
Police said
the cause of death was undetermined
pending a medical examiner's report. No
additional information about the
investigation has been released.
Copyright 2006 by
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