News Release

One Canadian Soldier Dies in Afghanistan

CEFCOM NR-08.013 - March 11, 2008

OTTAWA - At approximately 2:15 pm today Kandahar time, a Canadian soldier was found dead in an accommodation room, at Kandahar Airfield.

A Canadian Forces National Investigation Service investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding this tragedy. No further details are available at this time, although enemy action has been ruled out.

The identity of the deceased soldier is:

Bombardier Jérémie Ouellet, age 22, 1^st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA), based out of Shilo, Manitoba.

He was with the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, based in Shilo, Manitoba and had only been in the country for about two weeks. Ouellet was originally from Matane, Que.

Officials discovered the man's body around 2:15pm local time but can't yet account for what killed him. But they are sure about one thing. "The soldier's death is not related to combat," confirms Brig.-Gen Guy Laroche.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service will look into the circumstances surrounding the death. The CFNIS is the major crimes investigative unit of the Canadian military police and probes all incidents involving Canadian military personnel or property at home or abroad.

The thoughts and prayers of the men and women of the Canadian Forces go out to the family and friends of the decease.