Australian Army soldier killed in vehicle rollover near Townsville

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Defence Force has suspended the use of m113 armoured personnel carriers following the death of a soldier in a crash during a training exercise near Townsville. The ADF says the soldier had a distinguished service record in the 3rd Battalion.

Transcript

00:00Well, ABC News broke this story a short time ago, that being that the M113 armoured vehicle

00:10has been temporarily suspended from service following this incident late last night, whereby

00:16a soldier was killed when his vehicle turned over during a training exercise that was being

00:22conducted in Townsville.

00:24He was travelling in this vehicle with two other soldiers who did sustain injuries but

00:31have since been released from hospital.

00:35This isn't the first time, though, that we've seen this kind of vehicle involved in a serious

00:39incident.

00:40So, for example, in Townsville in 2017, at the same location, a vehicle did have an incident

00:49whereby when it hit a rock, we also saw a soldier die at Shoalwater Bay.

00:54In 2017, when their vehicle was struck by a tree branch.

01:00And then again, at Pakapunyal in June 2009, a soldier was killed when his vehicle rolled,

01:09when the driver was conducting a manoeuvre known as a power slide.

01:13Defence Minister Richard Miles says this is something that the ADF is investigating very

01:19closely and taking very seriously.

01:21Have a listen.

01:22The fleet of M113s have been grounded in this moment.

01:29We believe that is the prudent step to take until we understand better what has occurred

01:35here.

01:35Now, I'd emphasise that we've been operating this fleet for a very long period of time.

01:40And, of course, this fleet is going to be transitioned into the Redbacks, the new infantry fighting

01:48vehicles which are currently being constructed and are starting to enter service within the

01:53Australian Army.

01:55But having said that, I mean, there will be an ongoing life for the M113s in terms of that

02:01transition.

02:02But in this moment, we have suspended or grounded the fleet of the M113s just until we have a

02:09better understanding of exactly what's occurred here.

02:11And, Olivia, what more is known about the incident?

02:14Well, this tragedy has really struck at the heart of what is a very tight-knit defence

02:22community.

02:23We don't know the identity of the soldier that has died just yet, but we have already

02:28seen tributes rolling into him for him, I should say, as well as his service.

02:34And we heard this tribute from one of his colleagues earlier.

02:38The soldier who died last night, he served his nation proudly and passionately for seven

02:45and a half years.

02:46He was known as a real character within the battalion, the 3rd Battalion in which he served.

02:52He was a leader, a leader of young soldiers and mentored them routinely.

02:56He had a distinguished service.

02:58He served in support of our nation during the COVID crisis in contributing to our partnership

03:03with Papua New Guinea and in training the Ukraine Armed Forces for their conflict in Eastern Europe.

03:11He was known as a real character amongst his mates.

03:15He was also known as someone who always put his service before himself.

03:21And his memory will be cherished and honoured.

03:25So we know that there is currently an investigation underway into exactly how this incident did occur.

03:31And we've also heard at a federal level, a response from the coalition who have provided

03:37their condolences to the family and friends of this ADF soldier who died last night.

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