NZ soldier dies during training

UPDATED: A New Zealand soldier has died during a training exercise off the Coromandel Peninsula.

The Defence Force has confirmed a member of the Special Operations Force died during maritime counter-terrorism training this morning.

A witness at Port Jackson says he saw a soldier brought on shore at Port Jackson in an inflatable boat this morning accompanied by about 15 people wearing black, some of them armed.

He says he saw ambulances arrive and paramedics worked for about 90 minutes to try to revive the soldier.

The soldiers had been training on a boat off Channel Rock, near Cape Colville, he says.

He was told that the soldier had fallen.

The soldier's next of kin have been informed, and a family liaison officer has been assigned.

Police have also been been informed, the Defence Force said.

Previous training deaths

The Defence Force pleaded guilty in 2013 to a charge of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of Private Michael Ross during a training exercise.

The 29-year-old drowned when he fell from an inflatable boat into a small lake within the Army's Waiouru Military Camp, in September 2012.

An inquiry found a series of failings contributed to his death.

In 2010, an Air Force helicopter crash on Anzac Day killed three servicemen at Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington.

The Defence Force pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace in a private prosecution taken by the sole survivor.

A court of inquiry into that tragedy found there was a culture of rule-breaking in the Air Force.

EARIER:

A New Zealand soldier has died during a training exercise off the Coromandel Peninsula.

The Defence Force has confirmed a member of the Special Operations Force died during maritime counter-terrorism training this morning.

The soldier's next of kin have been informed, and a family liaison officer has been assigned.

Police have also been been informed, says the Defence Force says.

"The New Zealand Defence Force can confirm that a member of the Special Operations Force has died during a maritime counter-terrorism training exercise off the Coromandel Peninsula this morning," the NZDF says in a statement released today.

"The next of kin have been informed, and a family liaison officer has been assigned.

"Our thoughts are with the soldier's family and friends, and the NZDF requests that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

...more soon

-RNZ

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9 comments

Pointless

Posted on 13-10-2017 16:11 | By maildrop

So sad and such a pointless exercise. Assuming the French don't try any maritime terrorism again, there's no point to it. Muslim terrorists don't go near water.


@ maildrop

Posted on 14-10-2017 16:16 | By Captain Sensible

'USS Cole'


@Maildrop

Posted on 14-10-2017 18:30 | By Papamoaner

Ah, an expert on border threat eh? Those in the job won't even bother to laugh at such primitive ignorance. They've heard it all before. Many of them have first hand experience right up at the sharp end on offshore deployments. Nothing more insulting than some arrogant ignoramus telling dedicated professionals their function is worthless. Fortunately the majority of us are supportive and appreciative. Kia Kaha guys!


@Papamoaner

Posted on 15-10-2017 08:35 | By Minib

I cant believe you could call a person an arrogant ignoramus when he is only expressing an opinion what gives you the right to be so superior?


@Captainsensible

Posted on 15-10-2017 08:56 | By Papamoaner

Good example. My understanding is that the relatively new Bushmaster M242 deck gun (we have them on our own vessels these days) has been remote control modified and fitted to decks pretty much everywhere post USS Cole, and as a result of that incident. This weapon fires a 20mm projectile, single shot or rapid fire with a choice of warheads and can shred a fizz boat to bits before it can get near a vessel. I'm not sure where this "muslim terrorists don't go near water" assertion originates, but it has no credibility.


@Minib

Posted on 15-10-2017 09:18 | By Papamoaner

In the trade it's called payback


@Papamoaner

Posted on 15-10-2017 11:05 | By Minib

What a ridiculous statement.


@minib

Posted on 15-10-2017 13:36 | By Papamoaner

Well, I can understand why you would say that if you don't keep up with the threads on the forum, so I am not offended by it. That particular individual goes out of his way to insult people who oppose him. Indeed on the archeaology / museum debate currently running, he refers to me sarcastically as the "pappork mathemetician/psychologist" and on another thread he reminds Robin bell that he is "of superior intellect and can run rings around you." If you want to align yourself with that type of individual, good luck to you, but it might be wise to do your homework first if you value consistency. Of course, he gets his rocks off by seeking an over-reactive bite and sometimes succeeds as narcissists sometimes do. Especially when he strikes close to home!


@ Papamoaner

Posted on 15-10-2017 17:31 | By Minib

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.


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