SAS trooper Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea killed during training incident, Army confirms

Thursday, 9 May 2019

Lance Corporal Kahotea joined the New Zealand Army in January 2006, as a Royal New Zealand Engineer.

The SAS trooper who died following a training accident in Auckland has been named as Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea.

Lance Corporal Kahotea joined the New Zealand Army in 2006 as a Royal New Zealand Engineer, with an initial posting to the 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment as a specialist searcher in 2008.

He successfully completed NZSAS selection and was badged as an NZSAS operator in December 2014, and served in Afghanistan.

A statement from the New Zealand Army said Kahotea would be remembered as 'a soldier, father, friend and proud New Zealander'.

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Chief of Army Major General John Boswell said Kahotea was a consummate professional, who was known for his dedication and reliability – always upholding the Army's core values in every endeavour.

'He was an outstanding soldier and a top bloke,' Major General Boswell said. 'I know that his family, friends and colleagues will be keenly feeling the loss and we offer our deepest condolences.'

Kahotea was a former member of the Christchurch Army Cadets, and the organisation posted on its Facebook page following his death, writing it was 'a sad day for its unit, the Army, the NZDF, and the wider community'.

'At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember him,' they wrote.

The New Zealand Defence Force offered its deepest sympathy to Kahotea's family and said it would extend its full support services to them.

New Zealand's Minister of Defence Ron Mark also extended his condolences to the family and comrades of Kahotea.

'It was with great sadness that I heard about the passing of Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea, he had an outstanding career serving his country, and we will be forever grateful for his service.'

An investigation into the accident has begun and police are investigating on behalf of the coroner.

Kahotea was injured while taking part in an exercise at the Army's top SAS training facility in the south Auckland suburb of Ardmore on Wednesday night.

He was taken by helicopter to Auckland City Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

The exercise, being carried out with United States forces, was suspended following his death.

The SAS's purpose-built training facility has a 360-degree live firing range with special features to simulate real-life situations and locations such as aircraft fuselages, ship's bridges and public transport.

But the Army has not yet released details about how Kahotea was injured.

Following his death, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said an investigation would take place to find out what had happened.

'We need to do all we can and protect all workers in their workforce,' she said.

'Right now my condolences go to the family.'

The fatality is the second to occur during military training in Auckland this year.

In March, 23-year-old Zachary Yarwood died at the Devonport Naval Base after an advanced diver training session went wrong.

In January, Singaporean actor Aloysius Pang also died during military training in New Zealand after sustaining injuries to his chest and abdomen, He was carrying out repairs inside a Singapore self-propelled Howitzer at the time.

He had been training at the Waiouru Army Camp, south of Taupō, as part of Singapore's compulsory military service.