Recruit dies after grenade blows up in his hand

A hand grenade exploded yesterday at a training range of the Marine Corps, killing one recruit and injuring another recruit and an instructor. The recruit who died was 19 years old, the military said.

According to the military, the incident took place around 10:20 a.m. at a marine training range in Pohang, North Gyeongsang. While 500 recruits were practicing throwing hand grenades, a grenade exploded in the hand of one trainee, the military said. The recruit was only identified by his surname Park.

The explosion took place when the instructor ordered the trainees to throw their grenades.

The explosion destroyed Park’s hand. An instructor and another recruit standing nearby were hit by splinters from the grenade.

After emergency treatment, all three were rushed to a hospital in Pohang. Park’s condition worsened, the military said. Some metal fragment penetrated his skull. He died six hours after the accident. The other two marines are recovering.

The Marine Corps said an investigation is being conducted to determine whether the accident was caused by a faulty grenade, a problem in the exercise or a mistake by the recruit.

Some witnesses said the grenade exploded as soon as Park pulled out the pin.

Grenade training is a normal part of marine boot camp. Recruits receive the training in their third week.

The injured recruits were members of the 1,188th class of the Marine Corps, enlisted on Aug. 25. The 1,050 recruits were to complete their six-week boot camp on Oct. 9.

BY SER MYO-JA [myoja@joongang.co.kr]