Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster was killed when an old artillery shell exploded.
Sergeant Forster had only been with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) squadron for 10 days, but he had plenty of experience with explosives. Until recently he had been a munitions and bomb disposal expert with the Defence Force in Afghanistan.
Today his family spoke of their loss. Sergeant Forster’s brother-in-law, Glen Langvad, said his family was devastated.
“The family are very traumatised. It was a very sudden shock to lose Andrew but we are coping,” he said.
The old shell which took his life came from a 105 millimetre artillery piece used by the army.
Unexploded shells are called "blinds" and some parts of Waiouru's firing ranges have so many, they're no-go areas. It's the EOD squadron's job to seek out, mark and destroy such blinds.
Sergeant Forster was well respected by his defence force colleagues at Ohakea and at Trentham where he was based.
“Yesterday afternoon the tools were downed and people gathered and had a drink and remembered. Today outside of the team that is supporting the family I think people are mourning in their own way,” said Carl Smith of Air Force Operational Support.
His death happened on the final day of a two week deployment -he'd been due to see his wife and three children that afternoon.
A funeral will be held at Ohakea air base next week. A Defence Force spokesman told three news the family wants to have the service at the chapel where Forster was married.
3 News