Cold torments Marine Corps: participants in exercise camps with frozen limbs | Inland

It was a four-day course where, for example, medical personnel learn how to survive in extreme cold. During the training, according to spokesman Matthias Spaans of the Marine Corps, there was a rapid drop in temperature. The mercury went from minus six to minus nineteen in a short time. That broke some of the participants. They mainly suffered from frostbite on their feet. The victim with the most severe cold injury had to be rushed to a Norwegian hospital.

An internal investigation into the incident is currently underway. “But it is already clear that the Norwegian lead in medical knowledge in the field of treatment of this type of injury has made the difference for the colleague who was admitted there between amputation or not. It is true that this colleague will experience symptoms such as loss of feeling for a number of years,” says spokesman Spaans.

To survive in the harsh winter conditions, course participants must wear special clothing. This has been provided and, according to the corps, has actually been worn. However, one of the people with frostbite was not wearing the shoes that are part of the cold winter package.

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