France: soldier killed in training, another wounded

The French army lost one of its members on Wednesday April 29. "During training (for a rescue mission) carried out by a Caracal of the 1/67 helicopter squadron 'Pyrenees', two soldiers fell to the ground in circumstances which remain to be established," said the Ministry of the Armed Forces in the evening.

I learned with deep sadness of the death of Sergeant Pierre Pougin, during a helicopter rescue exercise. I address my support to his wounded brother in arms. Thousands of them watch over us silently and selflessly every day. Let’s never forget. pic.twitter.com/E28CpG4mOL

One of them, Sergeant Pierre Pougin, helicopter diver rescuer of the 1/67 "Pyrenees" helicopter squadron at air base 120 in Cazaux, Gironde, was killed. "Beside him, a nurse from the Armed Forces Health Service assigned to the medical unit at Cazaux, seriously injured, was quickly taken care of by the emergency services," added the press release.

According to Colonel Cyrille Duvivier, spokesman for the air force, the accident occurred about five kilometers southwest of the town of Biscarosse, in the Landes.

Operation Barkhane

The Pyrenees squadron has notably been engaged in recent years within the Barkhane anti-Jihadist operation in the Sahel, with vocations of support for the forces, reconnaissance, search and rescue in combat.

The Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly expressed her "immense sadness". She expressed "all her condolences to the families, relatives and brothers in arms" of the deceased soldier and addressed "her support in this ordeal to the injured medic".

Already on April 15, two soldiers were killed and five injured in the accident during a training flight of an aircraft from the 5th Regiment of Combat Helicopters of Pau. The aircraft had crashed in an agricultural field, in the heart of a hilly and wooded area, before catching fire.

With Reuters and AFP

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