DPR 58/97 Thursday, 20 March 1997
NAME OF ARMY OFFICER KILLED AT TANDEM THRUST RELEASED
The Department of Defence has released the name of the soldier killed during the closing stages of Exercise Tandem Thrust 97.
He was Captain Brendan Casey, 26, of Wyong, NSW.
Captain Casey, a member of the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, in Townsville, was injured at about 1.30 am this morning in an accident involving an armoured personnel carrier, eight kilometres south-east of Williamson Airfield, in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Prompt medical attention was administered, but he died three hours later.
Members of the Townsville based Ready Deployment Force were leaving the exercise early to be prepared to respond to the possible arrival of tropical cyclone Justin on the Queensland coast, near Townsville.
The Commander of the Tandem Thrust 97 Combined Task Force United States, Vice Admiral Robert Natter and the Deputy Commander, Australian Major General Tim Ford, express their condolences to Captain Casey's family.
"Safety has been a top priority in this exercise and this accident has left us very sad. The nature of work in the Australian Defence Force can be dangerous and every precaution is taken to minimise such dangers. It is never easy when a tragedy like this occurs," General Ford said.
Further information:
Tandem Thrust Combined Joint Information Bureau (079) 214 149