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Report on Airman's death released

  • Published
The Air Force today released a report of investigation into the death of Airman Basic Joshua M. Rolfe, citing the cause of death as a rare, pre-existing heart condition known as cardiac arrhythmia secondary to the right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia -- a condition that occurs when the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis.

Airman Rolfe, a trainee assigned to Flight 066, 322nd Training Squadron, died Oct. 29, 2005, four days after entering basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He collapsed during the second lap of a scheduled six-lap run designed to assess his physical readiness.

Two independent medical technicians at the track immediately performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation and called for an ambulance. Airman Rolfe was transported to the emergency department at Lackland AFB's Wilford Hall Medical Center where life saving efforts continued. He could not be revived.

Col. Michael J. Morgan from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., served as president of the ground accident investigation board.