Australian navy sailor found dead in Oman likely due to bodybuilding supplements

HMA Darwin — Royal Australian Navy HMA Ships Darwin and Newcastle dock at Manila's south harbour October 6, 2006, for a port visit and to participate in a joint maritime training activity. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

The Australian Defence Force ordered toxicology tests to determine the cause of the death of a Navy sailor, believed to have died because of bodybuilding supplements. Colleagues found the 22-year-old leading seaman unconscious in a hotel room.

ABC reports that the other navy sailors tried to revive the seaman but failed. He was deployed on HMAS Darwin as part of Operation Manitou. The vessel docked in Muscat, Oman, and the seaman was on shore leave in the Middle Eastern city.

Operation Manitou is Australia’s contribution to support international efforts “to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East” by counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and narcotics control in the region, according to The Australian.

In a statement, the Defence Force confirmed the death of the Royal Australian Navy sailor. It is providing support to the shipmates of the seaman and his family, but kept the sailor’s identity to respect his family’s privacy.

The sailor is believed to have bought the bodybuilding supplements in Muscat. Bodybuilding.com lists several bodybuilding supplements to avoid. These are vanadyl sulfate, methoxy, epinephrine, pyruvate and ZMA.

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