An Australian Defence Force soldier and son of a former federal minister has died after a parachute malfunction during a training exercise.
The accident occurred on Wednesday night during what defence described as a routine training activity at the RAAF Base in Richmond, about 50km northwest of Sydney.
Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon was a “much loved and respected soldier”, acting special operations commander Brigadier James Kidd said on Thursday.
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“Jack was loved for his courage and known for his sense of humour and his service to his country,” he said.
Fitzgibbon is the son of former defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon, who said the family were “devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our wonderful Jack”.
“Serving in the special forces was Jack’s dream job, and we take some comfort from the fact that he died serving his nation in a uniform of the ADF,” he said.
“Jack was a dedicated, highly skilled, and courageous soldier. He was an experienced parachutist.
“Our lives will never be the same without Jack, but we will always remain proud of him and his many achievements.”
An investigation into the cause of the accident has been launched, and the army has “temporarily” paused all parachute training.
– With AAP