Australian soldier killed in training incident identified as beloved father of two

Tributes are flowing for Corporal Brendan Hannam, the 28-year-old Australian soldier killed during a training exercise in the Northern Territory.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the tributes for Hannam. “This sad incident is a terrible reminder of what families take on when their loved one bravely puts on our nation’s uniform,” he said. “Every loss and every incident is felt deeply by the broader Defence family, but by none more so than their mates who served alongside them. We think of them today and every day. “We ask that all Australians respect the privacy of Defence members and families at this saddest of times. “The ADF will provide further updates when possible.”

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the incident was a “tragic reminder” of the dangers Australia’s defence forces put themselves in. “We offer our heartfelt thoughts and condolences for the family, loved ones, and unit mates of an Australian Army soldier who tragically died during a training exercise in the Northern Territory yesterday,” he said in a statement. “We are also thinking of the five soldiers injured in this incident. “We wish them a full and swift recovery, and our thoughts are with their families who will be supporting them through this very challenging time.”

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Susan Coyle said Hannam was a beloved partner and father of two young children. “Brendan is survived by a partner and two young children. He is a much beloved junior leader in our army,” Coyle said. Hannam, who was from the 5th/7th Battalion, was promoted to corporal in 2023.

“He has served and sacrificed on two operational tours to Afghanistan in 2019 under Operation Highroad, and trained Ukrainians with the British Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. “His mates told me he would give the shirt off his back for anybody, and the thing he’ll be most remembered for is the love and support that he had for his partner and his kids,” Coyle said.

Coyle said that Hannam aspired to be a medical technician in the ADF. “I know that he would have been superb.”

Minister for Veterans Affairs Matt Keogh said support would be provided to Hannam’s family and colleagues. “No matter how anyone in the Australian Defence Force passes away, it’s tragic,” he told reporters. “We want to make sure the families and the people who work with them are supported whenever that occurs.”

The Defence Department confirmed the tragic accident on Tuesday morning. “Around 4.20pm, police were notified of a vehicle rollover at a military training facility in Mount Bundey,” it said in a statement. “The vehicle is believed to have contained six occupants at the time of the crash. “NT Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene where a man was declared deceased. “Detectives from the Major Crash Investigation Unit have travelled to the scene to take charge of the investigation.”

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said police were at the scene assisting Defence in its investigations. “We can’t comment on the cause of the injury to the Defence personnel,” he said.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said two of the injured were airlifted to Royal Darwin Hospital, while two more were taken to the hospital by plane on Monday night. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family who are obviously devastated by this loss,” she said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Coyle said two of the injured soldiers are still in hospital in a stable condition. “The other three are currently in Robertson Barracks, in our hospital ward being monitored,” she said.

The Mount Bundey training area is about 134km south-east of Darwin. It is a 117,300-hectare training area used by the Australian military and its allies.

There have been deaths during exercises in the past, with both Australian and American military personnel being killed. These have come as a result of vehicle accidents, or accidental deaths during live fire exercises. In one case, the death of Private Jason Challis in 2017, the Australian Defence Force was fined $1 million after it pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a health and safety duty.