The condition of a soldier who collapsed while vying for a spot in the elite Special Air Service (SAS) has worsened.
The
condition of Lieutenant Alexander Teira Cowan deteriorated from
critical but stable to critical, a spokesman for Auckland City Hospital
said.
Lt Cowan, known as Teira, fell unconscious suffering
"heat-related injuries" while taking part in an 8km run with other SAS
selection candidates on January 25.
The 26-year-old has been in an
induced coma since. He was taken to Middlemore Hospital before being
transferred to Auckland City Hospital where he remains.
His father, Monty, described him as a strong man who had no history of illness.
The
SAS candidates were wearing military uniform and carrying about 10kg of
equipment as they ran through the Hunua Ranges southeast of Auckland.
He collapsed after 80 minutes, towards the end of the exercise.
Lt
Cowan received immediate first aid and an army medic treated him before
he was taken to hospital in an ambulance, army chief Major General Tim
Keating said.
An investigation into the incident is under way.
NZN