Soldier dies after training incident at CFB Wainwright, Alta. - Action News
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Edmonton

Soldier dies after training incident at CFB Wainwright, Alta.

Pte. Steven Allen, 20, from Victoria B.C. was injured Monday when a tactical structure collapsed. He died Wednesday at the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton.

Pte. Steven Allen, 20, raised in Windsor and Victoria, fatally injured when structure collapsed

Pte. Steven Allen, 20, was posted to the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre in Wainwright, Alta. (Department of National Defence)

A Canadian soldier has died after a training incident at CFB Wainwright, Alta., on Monday.

Pte. Steven Allen, 20, from Victoriawas injured when a lookout post collapsed.

He diedat the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton on Wednesday.

Another soldier who was not named received minor injuries in the same structure collapse.

Public affairs officer Fraser Logan said these lookout posts are usually wooden structures built on a shippingcontainer and surrounded by sandbags.

"While it's open to the elements, open to the environment, it would provide a bit of protection from rain and wind," he said.

Logan said the collapse occurred during a normal exercise in the field. He said people taking part in the exercise were training to become regular members of the infantry.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is looking into the incident. Defence officials will not release any additional details at this time about what happened.

"We are deeply saddened by this incident,"said Lt.-Col. Sean Trenholm, commanding officer of 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, in a news release.

"Our immediate focus is to provide support to the family of Pte.Allen and ensure members of the unit are provided the assistance they need to deal with the loss of their comrade."

In a statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his condolences to Allen's family.

On behalf of all Canadians, Laureen and I offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Pte.Steven Allen," he said. "We also offer our prayers for the quick recovery of the other injured member of the Canadian Armed Forces."

Allen had 'realized his childhood dream,' aunt says

Norma Chantler, an aunt from Windsor, Ont., told CBC News on Thursday that Allen is survived in his immediate family by his parents and a younger brother.

"It's such a trauma for us, this 20-year-old man who had realized his childhood dream should die in this manner," said Chantler.

Allen grew up in Windsor, and then moved with his family to Victoria when he was around 16 years old, she said.

Chantler added that, "it just was such a terrible shock for us that this would hit our own family," as they had grieved along with other Canadians after two soldiers were killed in in violent attacks in late October in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Ottawa.

Chantler said it was her understanding that Allen was kept on life support until Wednesday evening, and that a funeral will be held in Victoria on Nov. 11.

Allen joined the Canadian Forces in October 2013and completed his basic training in February.

He was training to join the infantry at the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre in Wainwright.

This is the second time this year that a soldier has died during a training exercise at the base, which is located about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.

In May,Lt.-Col. Daniel Bobbitt was killed whenalight-armoured vehicle overturnedduring a training exercise.

Four others were injured in thatincident.

With files from Makda Ghebreslassie