21-Year-Old Marine Recruit Passes Away While Conducting a Physical Fitness Test

A 21-year-old marine recruit died Tuesday while conducting a physical fitness test at boot camp.

Officials reported that Private First Class Noah Evans, a marine recruit aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, died during a physical fitness test.

Rest in peace, Pfc. Noah Evans. https://t.co/YfTHTxYBjn

— Military Times (@MilitaryTimes) April 20, 2023

“On April 18, Pfc. Noah Evans passed away while conducting a physical fitness test aboard MCRD Parris Island. Our deepest condolences go out to Noah’s family and to the Marines and staff of Mike Co,” Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. tweeted.

“The cause of death is currently under investigation.”

On April 18, Pfc. Noah Evans passed away while conducting a physical fitness test aboard MCRD Parris Island. Our deepest condolences go out to Noah’s family and to the Marines and staff of Mike Co. The cause of death is currently under
investigation.https://t.co/HUHhipu24L pic.twitter.com/0pj5nM99G5

— Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. (@MCRDPI) April 19, 2023

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. issued this press release:

On Tuesday April 18th, Private First Class Noah Evans passed away while conducting a physical fitness test aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The cause of death is currently under investigation.

Pfc. Evans was a recruit assigned to Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment.

Releasable information related to Pfc. Evans in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 is as follows:

• Home of Record – Decatur, GA
• Education/schools – 12th Grade/ Home School Diploma
• Awards/decorations – N/A
• Marital status/dependents – Single
• Age – 21 years old

Military.com noted it’s the fourth death on the base in the past two years.

This marks the fourth death at the base in two years.

In June 2021, Pfc. Dalton Beals, 19, of Pennsville, New Jersey, died during the last leg of marine recruit training, the Crucible. The exercise involves a 48-mile journey over 54 hours with 45 pounds of gear, 36 stations and problem-solving exercises with four to six hours of sleep and limited nourishment.

On the day Beals died, the temperature on the base was in the 90s. Despite policies in place to alter uniforms and gear when temperatures rise, Beals’ drill instructor, identified by MCRD Parris Island officials as Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley, instead intensified training, according to investigative report obtained by the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

Beals’ fellow recruits described being discouraged from seeking out medical assistance and were mocked. Beals died of hyperthermia.

In November 2022, Smiley was charged with negligent homicide for Beals’ death. As of Wednesday, those charges are still pending.

In September 2021, another recruit, 21-year-old Pvt. Anthony Muñoz, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, died after “falling” from a balcony in an “apparent suicide,” MCRD Parris Island officials previously told the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

Pfc. Brandon Barnish, 26, of Evans, Georgia, was found dead at the training depot on Sept. 29, 2021, according to the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

Including Evans, there have been at least 10 deaths on Parris Island since 2000.