CFB Esquimalt sailor found dead in Tanzanian hotel
A Canadian sailor based at CFB Esquimalt in B.C. has died in hospital in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, while on leave from HMCS Regina, which is currently operating in the Indian Ocean.
Department of Defence chief spokesperson Daniel Le Bouthillier says the sailor was en route to Canada for a scheduled leave when he was found unconscious in his Dar Es Salaam hotel room and taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The unidentified sailor died Monday according to a release today from the Canadian Forces.
Le Bouthillier said in an email to CBC that his death was "not operationally related."
Bouthillier said the cause of death is under investigation and an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause.
"At this time, Canadian Armed Forces are working with authorities in Dar Es Salaam to investigate the circumstances of the incident," he said. "No further details are available."
The Canadian Armed Forces is currently participating with partners and allies in Operation ARTEMIS, a maritime security and counter-terrorism operation in the Arabian Sea designed to enhance maritime security in the Middle East.
In January, a Halifax sailor died in somewhat similar circumstances while off duty. The body of Lt. Andrew F. Webster was discovered in his hotel room in the Seychelles, an island country in the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar.
At the time, Canadian Forces ruled his death as accidental, saying there was no foul play and it wasn't combat-related, but never revealed exactly what caused his death.
