More On: Ezequiel Chirino
Army officer chokes to death on his own vomit during horrifying 'initiation' ceremony
A young officer in the army choked to death on his own vomit after he was allegedly forced to drink alcohol as part of a 'hazing' ritual.
After the death of Second Lieutenant Matias Ezequiel Chirino in Argentina, 11 officers have been put on leave.
Officials said that the 22-year-old died early on Sunday morning after a ceremony to mark his joining a new regiment.
An autopsy showed that he died from bronchial aspiration, which was caused by drinking a lot of alcohol.
Grieving dad Ezequiel Chirino said that his son had been forced to do things like drink alcohol and jump into a cold pool at night.
He said, "Without a doubt, he was killed. It wasn't by chance."
He said it was a "abuse of power" and that the people who did it "must go to jail."
Matias Chirino was one of three officers who joined Artillery Group No. 3, which was based in Paso de los Libres, on the border with Brazil.
The other two new officers are among the 11 officers who have been suspended.
Ezequiel Chirino had just taken his son to join an army unit and was staying in a town hotel when he got the terrible news.
He said, "At eight in the morning, the head of the detachment calls me and asks, 'Am I talking to Matias Chirino's dad? Come get him, because he's already dead.'
"With that chill."
Matias went to El Palomar Military College for four years and then got his diploma.
At Paso de los Libres, he joined the regiment to finish his training as an officer.
The army said that it is helping the Federal Court of Paso de los Libres with its investigation.
Last year, it is said that a sick initiation ceremony was used to rape an RAF soldier with mortar tubes.
And a French pilot was allegedly tied to a cross and used as a target by jets as a cruel way to start his career.
In 2020, an Italian air force recruit was thrown against a plane wing and then thrown into a pool as part of a hazing ceremony.
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