A Massachusetts State Police recruit who suffered a medical emergency during a training exercise died Friday in a hospital bed surrounded by friends and family.
Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, of Worcester, fainted in the boxing ring during a defensive tactics training exercise at the State Police Academy on Thursday, according to law enforcement sources. told WCVB,
The academy's on-scene medical team immediately provided aid and transported the injured man to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, police said.
“Despite the heroic efforts of medical professionals to provide lifesaving care, trainee Delgado-Garcia died at the hospital,” state police spokesman Tim McGuirk said.
He joined the 90th Recruit Training Troop in April and was scheduled to graduate Oct. 9.
McGuirk said MSPs administered the oath of office to Enrique Delgado-Garcia Friday night in the final moments of his life.
“He was surrounded by family, loved ones and classmates during the bilingual ceremony, which concluded with him being presented with his Trooper badge,” she said of the sombre ceremony.
Delgado-Garcia's body was transported by state police Saturday from UMass Memorial to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Westfield.
“Trooper Enrique Delgado Garcia was just weeks away from graduating from the State Police Academy,” an emotional union president Brian Williams told WCVB.
“I don’t think there are words that can express how horrible and tragic the situation is.”
Col. John E. Maughan Jr. described Delgado-Garcia as “a fine young man who made an immediate impression on his classmates and the academy staff.”
State police said the Worcester County District Attorney's Office is “reviewing all aspects of this case.”
Delgado-Garcia previously worked as a victim witness advocate for the same D.A.’s office.
Law enforcement and security analyst Todd McGee, who previously ran the state police defensive tactics program, told WCVB the course involves 40 or 50 hours of training.
This training can include learning how to use a baton, pepper spray or handcuffs.
“Thousands of recruits have participated in boxing programs safely without any issues,” McGee said. “I think it's important to look at: What were the controls? What were the safety measures?”
