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Navy Seal Commander refuses to take responsibility for 'Hell Week' death of Kyle Mullen
The Navy SEAL captain who led the grueling 'Hell Week' boot camp during which a recruit died last year has defended himself against a scathing report digging into the training.
Captain Brad Geary said the death of Kyle Mullen in 2022 was a 'tragedy' but that was about the only part of the report he agreed with.
The commander defended himself and the program against the investigation, which accused him of pushing candidates too hard under his leadership.
'That entire report mischaracterizes, misrepresents and misquotes our organization and Naval special warfare,' Geary said to Stephanie Ramos on ABC News 'Good Morning America' Tuesday.
Brad Geary, the Navy Seal Commander in charge of 'Hell Week' boot camp where recruit Kyle Mullen died appeared on ABC News 'Good Morning America' Tuesday
Geary defended himself and the program against the investigation, which accused him of pushing candidates too hard under his leadership
Mullen, a 24-year-old from Manalapan, New Jersey, died during the intensive Navy SEALs program Hell Week in February 2022
'Because it was built off of a bias that was inappropriate and regurgitated untruths that simply didn't exist.'
Mullen, a 24-year-old from Manalapan, New Jersey, died in February 2022 after completing the intensive training program, Hell Week.
He swam in cold waters and developed pulmonary edema, which caused his lungs to fill with fluid, and pneumonia.
The former Yale football team captain died just three hours after completing the program.
His death shined a light on the intense and sometimes dangerous training Navy Seals endure.
The 200 page report that the Naval Education and Training Command released last month identified 'failures across multiple systems that led to a number of candidates being at a high risk of serious injury.'
When asked if he felt any way responsible for Mullen's death, Geary said: 'there's a weight on the shoulders of every commanding officer that has served and I don't think that weight can be reduced down to one responsibility.'
Mullen swam in cold waters and developed pulmonary edema, which caused his lungs to fill with fluid, and pneumonia
Geary has spoken out after a scathing report by the Navy suggested that under his brutal leadership candidates were pushed too hard
Mullen played football at Yale University before transferring to Monmouth University in New Jersey
'I will always carry the weight of Kyle's death on my shoulders.'
Geary said his only responsibility is to speak truth to make sure such a tragedy never occurs again.
'Is there anyone you do feel responsible for his death?' Ramos asked.
'No,' Geary replied. 'His death was a tragedy, and this is one thing I agree with the report on.'
The Navy report detailed how 'a near perfect storm' of circumstances at the Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL course, referred to as BUD/S, resulted in injury to a number of candidates and the death of Mullen.
'It was the perfect storm of factors that all combined at the wrong possible moment in tie and resulted in the tragic loss of Kyle,' he said.
Mullen's mother, Regina Mullen, called Geary a 'murderer' over her son's death
Several trainees have died throughout the years during the pool exercise (pictured), including Derek Lovelace in 2016, who died after becoming unconscious
Mullen's mother, Regina Mullen, believes differently and said the captain, who she has called a 'murderer,' is responsible for her son's death and the three others who were injured during 'Hell Week'.
She expressed frustration with what she said was a lack of accountability for her son's death.
'The Navy SEAL code item four says take responsibility for your actions and the actions of your teammates,' she said.
'He's the commander, the commander's supposed to command. Four people almost died that day. My son, unfortunately, died. He's responsible. I don't know how he could say he's not.'