The Royal Canadian Navy has published the name of the sailor who died after an inflatable boat of rigid helmet overturned in the Bedford basin on Friday night.
Comodoro Jacob French, commander of the Canadian Fleet Atlantic, told reporters at a press conference on Monday on Halifax that the second -class non -commissioned officer Gregory Applin was a member of the HMCS Montreal crew.
“At this time, Gregory Applin’s family is experiencing a painful loss. The ship and those closest to the NCOs Apply, the fleet and the entire army are affected by this tragic event,” French said.
“We are doing everything possible to support the ship. We are doing everything possible to support the family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”
French said that HMCS Montreal had been doing tests at the sea in the Bedford basin on Friday night in preparation for future missions. He said that this part of the tests required that the sailors put Moor to Boyas in the northern part of the Bedford basin. They were scheduled to be there from Friday to Monday morning.
“At the end of Friday’s evidence, an inflatable boat or ribbable ribs were being used to take Mill Cove Jetty to the ground, which was a typical delivery point to affect changes in the crew,” French said.
“The rib left the test staff shortly before [10 p.m.] IN. The rib began its return to boat shed with a small Coxswain Naval Fleet School Atlantic and a second sailor from HMCS Montreal on board. “
Like the boat, more than seven meters long, with the ability to transport about 10 passengers, he returned to the Naval Shipyard, an “incident occurred that caused the rib to turn and throw both sailors into the water,” French said
It is not clear why the boat overturned, French said, adding that it would be part of the investigation.
French said without access to a radio to contact HMCS Montreal, because he was probably underwater at that time, Coxswain used his cell phone to call 911.
The 911 call activated the Joint Rescue Coordination Center and a rescue effort with ships sent from the Canada Coast Guard. He said the sailors were taken from the water and taken to the hospital QEII. French said Applin could not be resurrected. Coxswain was discharged from the hospital on Saturday.
The investigation is being carried out by the National Research Service of the Canadian Forces, a branch of the Military Police, French said. He said that is a standard practice “for this type of incident.”
Applin, 38, was a weapons engineering technician who was involved in the deployment of last year to Indo-Pacific, who returned in October 2024. He had been with the Navy for 19 years.
French said that while the Navy has had ribs overturned in the past, it is not a common fact.
HMCS Montreal is no longer in the Bedford and French basin, he said that the Navy is waiting for the appropriate time to start operations again.
“There is a small pause while we focus on the team and family and then they will finally go out again,” he said.