Royal Watch News
Prince's fellow cadets collapse
Jul 28, 2006, 14:58 GMT
Britain's Prince William survived a gruelling nuclear combat exercise, as two of his fellow cadets were hospitalised with heat exhaustion.
The 24-year-old royal was among 300 cadets from Sandhurst Military Academy required to wear a hefty nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) suit for the tough training at Ottenburn Centre, Norfolk yesterday (27.07.06).
Temperatures soared to over 30C, meaning the soldiers had to endure sweltering conditions within the suits of over 70C. A total of nine cadets collapsed after over heating, with two of them being helicoptered to near-by Newcastle General Hospital. A Sandhurst source said: ''It was more the 30C. Cadets were dropping like flies 'Extra medics were on standby but cadets were in suits, 60lb backpacks and respirator masks. It was asking for trouble.' A Military Of Defence spokesman confirmed the prince was one of those taking part in the exercise but was not taken ill. Sandhurst has defended the exercise saying it is vital to make the training as 'realistic as possible'. A source said: 'It is important to stress that this is a hugely important part of officer training and they all have to do it. 'Unfortunately, things like this do happen.'Copyright 2006 BANG Media International
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