Five Tufts lacrosse players hospitalized after Navy SEAL training

Five Tufts University lacrosse players remained hospitalized Friday, days after a dozen athletes were injured during a workout led by a graduate of Tufts University's training program and the Navy SEALs, a spokesman said.

Patrick Collins, a university spokesman, said 12 members of the lacrosse team were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, or rhabdo, a life-threatening condition, after a practice Monday. It is a rare muscle injury in which muscle breaks down into the blood, sometimes due to overexertion.

According to the Center for Disease Control, rhabdo can cause kidney damage, trigger seizures, and lead to permanent disability or death.

The university said it was commissioning an external, independent investigation to clarify the circumstances of the incident.

Collins said 50 people attended the 45-minute training on campus on Monday, led by the alumnus who recently completed the BUD/S Navy SEAL training program. Collins described the training as “voluntary” and “supervised.”

BUD/S Navy SEAL, short for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL, is a 56-week, multi-level training program for Navy SEAL candidates, according to the Navy. The training “is designed to push you to your physical and mental limits,” the website says.

No details about the training itself were announced.

The spokesperson said all lacrosse team activities are currently postponed and the condition of the rest of the team is being monitored. He noted that the number of rhabdomyolysis cases and hospitalizations is subject to change.

The Boston Globe reported that head coach Casey D'Annolfo was absent during practice.

“Our thoughts are with the players and their families and we hope that under the care of local medical experts they will make a speedy recovery,” Collins said.

Dr. David Leaf, a nephrologist and director of clinical and translational research on acute kidney failure at Brigham and Women's Hospital, told the Globe it was concerning that the players were still in the hospital days after practice.

“Some of these people may have organ damage,” he told the newspaper, noting that the severity of their muscle damage may not yet have stabilized. “Otherwise, you wouldn't necessarily need to keep a young, healthy child with just a mild muscle injury in the hospital. You could just keep them hydrated at home and monitor them carefully.”

The Tufts men's lacrosse team is the defending NCAA Division III national champion.