The British Ministry of Defence is carrying out an investigation into the death of a young Co Antrim soldier on a parachute training exercise in Canada.
Private Stuart James McMaster (20) of 1st Royal Irish Regiment based in Canterbury, Kent, died on Saturday during a freefall parachute jump at the Skydive Ranch, in Beiseker, near Calgary.
Pte McMaster, who is believed to have been from Ballymena, and about 700 other regiment members had been camping at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, 181 miles north east of Calgary, since the end of May as part of a six-week live-fire and tactical training excursion.
A MoD spokeswoman today said his family had been informed and that his death was being investigated. Canadian military police were also making inquiries.
British Army spokesman in Beiseker, Major Paul Barton, said Pte McMaster had made several successful skydives before his fatal accident.
He said: "In this case, it's all gone tragically wrong."
PA
