EDMONTON – A 20-year-old Canadian Armed Forces member has died after he was injured during a training exercise at the Canadian Forces Base in Wainwright, Alta on Monday.
Private Steven Allen of Victoria and another soldier were inside a tactical structure when it collapsed.
“If you can envision a wooden structure surrounded by sand bags on top of the C-Can container (metal storage container), that’s what they were occupying when it collapsed,” explained Fraser Logan, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs for the Department of National Defence.
Allen was airlifted to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton where he died of his injuries, the Department of National Defence said Thursday. The other soldier suffered minor injuries in the incident.
“The loss of any soldier is devastating to the military community and our condolences go out to his family and friends,” said Brigadier-General Wayne Eyre, Commander of 3rd Canadian Division and Joint Task Force West.
“While Private Allen’s time in the Canadian Armed Forces was short, his decision to join and pursue a career in the Canadian Army speaks to the strength and determination of his character.”
The 20-year-old completed his Basic Military Qualification in February 2014 and had not served overseas.
Allen was training to become a fully-qualified Regular Force Infantry soldier. He was recruited out of Victoria in 2013 and was posted to 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre in Wainwright.
“We are deeply saddened by this incident. Our immediate focus is to provide support to the family of Private Allen and ensure members of the unit are provided the assistance they need to deal with the loss of their comrade,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Sean Trenholm, Commanding Officer of 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also offered his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Allen.
“This tragic incident reminds us of the trials that our brave men and women in uniform go through as they train to defend our freedoms and liberties,” he said. “Private Allen lost his life in the line of duty. We will honour and remember his service to Canada.”
This is the second Canadian soldier to die in a training exercise at the base this year. In May, Lt.-Col. Dan Bobbitt was killed when a Light Armoured Vehicle III (LAV III) rolled over during Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 14 (Ex MR 14), Canada’s largest military training mission.
READ MORE: CFB Wainwright accident: LAV III has a history of rollovers
Four other soldiers were injured in the rollover.
CFB Wainwright is located about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.