A soldier who collapsed while vying for a spot in the elite Special Air Service (SAS) has taken a turn for the worse, after earlier responding to family members in hospital.
Lieutenant Alexander Teira 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.
He was taken to Middlemore Hospital by ambulance but on Monday, his condition worsened and he was transferred to Auckland Hospital, One News reports.
His sister Tatiana Cowan-Greening was among family members at his bedside.
"Teira opens his eyes, he's been talking to us and knows exactly who we are, and then they put him back in an induced coma," she said.
Lt Cowan's father Monty described him as a strong person who had no history of illness.
The selection group were wearing military uniform and carrying about 10kg of equipment as they ran through the Hunua Ranges southeast of Auckland.
Lt Cowan collapsed after 80 minutes, towards the end of the exercise.
He received immediate first aid assistance, and an army medic began treating him within five minutes of his collapse, before an ambulance arrived, army chief Major General Tim Keating said.
The army is carrying out an inquiry into the incident.
NZN