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AN officer cadet at Sandhurst died yesterday and another is in hospital after they collapsed during gruelling training exercises.

 Graham Holmes, 23, died after spending two weeks in intensive care. He had collapsed an hour after completing a seven-mile endurance march with colleagues.

 On Tuesday, Adrian Muir, 22, from Jamaica, collapsed during an eight-mile march and run while carrying a 36lb kitbag as part of Sandhurst's full combat fitness test. It was not the first time that Cadet Holmes had collapsed during training. He needed hospital treatment after suffering heat exhaustion on a march soon after joining Sandhurst last September, the Army said. 

 He gave up the course for three months but returned in January and was nearly three-quarters of the way through his basic officer training when he collapsed again. An Army spokesman said there was no connection between his death and the collapse of Cadet Muir, who was in a different company. An inquiry is being held into both cases.

 Cadet Holmes was described by Maj Iain Park-Weir, a spokesman for Sandhurst, as a "very worthwhile cadet". His parents had travelled from Edinburgh to be with their son and were at his bedside when he died. Cadet Holmes, attended George Watson's College, a private school in Edinburgh, before going on to study engineering at Dundee University, where he joined the Officer Training Corps.

 Frank Gerstenberg, principal of George Watson's, said: "Graham was an excellent pupil. He was a member of the first-XV rugby team and was well respected and liked by staff and pupils." The Army said the march was a routine part of officer training, in which the fitness programme gradually got more demanding. Maj Park-Weir said: "He had finished the run and was back at Sandhurst when he collapsed. He was given first aid immediately and was then taken to hospital."

 Marches are supervised by a Physical Training Instructor trained in first aid. The cadets drink water before beginning the exercise and stop for regular refreshment. Maj Park-Weir said: "The aim is obviously to try to go on, but if someone is in distress the PTI will always take appropriate action." 

Cadet Holmes is thought to have been suffering from heat exhaustion when he was taken to Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, on June 30. A post mortem will be held. Maj Park-Weir said there was no indication that the cadets had been pushed harder than usual. He said: "I do not know of any other deaths at Sandhurst in similar circumstances." Cadet Muir was in a serious but stable condition last night.