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A Canadian Armed Forces member has died while on deployment in Latvia, the Department of National Defence said Friday.
Gunner Sebastian Halmagean, originally from Hamilton, died near the Latvian capital of Riga on Thursday, DND said in a news release. An investigation into his death is ongoing.
“At this time, there is no indication this incident poses an increased threat to the safety and security of our deployed members,” the news release said.
It did not say how Halmagean died or share any other circumstances of his death.
Canadian forces are deployed to Latvia as part of Operation Reassurance, the CAF’s largest overseas mission.
Halmagean served in the Canadian Armed Forces for nearly three years. According to a social media post by the CAF, he was based at the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, N.B.
The local Liberal MP, David Myles, said in a statement that “in our community, we are reminded on a daily basis what the sacrifice of military life truly looks like. Today, that has only become more clear.”
Halmagean’s time in Latvia was his first overseas deployment.
“The passing of Gunner Halmagean is a loss deeply felt for the Canadian Armed Forces,” Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, said in the release. “On behalf of all our members, I offer my heartfelt sympathies to his loved ones and those who served alongside him.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a social media statement he was “saddened to learn of the passing of the Gunner Sebastian Halmagean…. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and with all those [who] served alongside him.”
Latvia is home to a multinational deployment of troops meant to deter Russian aggression in Europe’s eastern flank. It is one of several NATO battle brigades deployed in eastern Europe. Canada is the lead nation in the Latvia deployment.
The country shares land borders with four countries: NATO allies Estonia and Lithuania, along with Belarus and Russia.
In August, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Operation Reassurance would be extended by an additional three years, to 2029.
