Three Uruguayan soldiers died during a tactical diving course in the Uruguay River in southwestern Uruguay.

Axar.az reports, citing Xinhua, that according to the National Navy, the incident occurred Thursday night near a pier in Fray Bentos, the capital city of Rio Negro Department.

The Navy said the incident occurred during the third night of a swimming exercise in the Tactical Divers Course, in which participants advanced through the river while attached to a rope and accompanied by boats and instructors.

Following a search and rescue operation, the bodies of two soldiers were recovered in the early hours of Friday, while the third victim was found later that morning.

Another soldier was rescued alive and taken to a medical center for treatment.