News Release
Canadian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
OTTAWA– Yesterday, a Canadian soldier was killed
at approximately 9:00 p.m., Kandahar time. The soldier was killed
after falling into a well while conducting a security patrol in
Zhari District.
The fallen soldier is Captain Jonathan (Jon) Sutherland
Snyder of the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light
Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta.
Members of Captain Snyder’s patrol tried to extract him from the
well, but were unsuccessful. Medical, engineering and search and
rescue assets were rushed to the scene, and Capt Snyder was lifted
out of the well. He was evacuated by helicopter to the
Multi-National Medical Unit at Kandahar Airfield, but sadly was
pronounced dead upon arrival.
At
9 p.m. on Saturday night, Capt. Jonathan (Jon) Sutherland Snyder
stepped into . . . nothingness.
The platoon leader fell into a well 20 metres deep while leading
a foot patrol in Zhari District, west of Kandahar. Despite frantic
efforts to extract him as quickly as possible — search and rescue
assets rushing to the scene from various points of departure — the
captain did not survive the dreadful accident.
He was pronounced dead upon arrival — by evacuating helicopter —
at the multinational hospital at Kandahar Air Field: the 85th
Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
A member of the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light
Infantry, Snyder had been on his second deployment to the country.
That battalion is extensively involved in the mentoring of Afghan
national forces.
Snyder was on a night foot patrol, likely leading his troops at
the point as platoon commander, when the accident occurred, tumbling
into a kariz, the deep wells connected by underground
channels that carry water through Afghanistan's farming irrigation
systems.
Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, commander of Task Force Afghanistan,
told reporters. "They related how desperately they worked to extract
him from the well while at the same time calling for help.
"Medical, engineer and search and rescue assets were rushed to
the scene and Jon was lifted out of the well."
"The rescue effort commenced immediately," Thompson emphasized.
"We're thoroughly investigating all aspects of it. But I can tell
you the response from both the quick response team, the platoon on
the ground and the helicopter medivac were well within our
expectations.
"It's just a tragic accident."
Snyder was recently engaged. He was raised in Penticton, B.C. but
had been living in Edmonton.
This loss will be felt by all Canadians as Captain Snyder is
sadly our 85th soldier to die in the Afghan mission that started in
2002.