The family of a military member who was in the helicopter crash last week in the Ionian Sea says Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke died “doing what he was born to do.”
A representative for the next of kin of Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke reads statement on his family’s behalf. 3:30
The family of a military member killed in the helicopter crash last Wednesday off the coast of Greece says Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke died “doing what he was born to do.”
Pyke was one of six Canadian military members who were aboard the CH-148 Cyclone when it crashed last April 29 while taking part in NATO exercises.
Lt. (N) Melissa Kia of the Royal Canadian Navy read a statement Tuesday morning in Halifax on behalf of Pyke’s family.
The statement said Pyke, a 34-year-old naval warfare officer, was a proud member of the navy and patriotic Canadian.
“Matthew was not just a son, brother and fiance — he was a community leader and a loyal Bluenoser,” said Kia, using a moniker to describe Nova Scotians.
“His roots in his Nova Scotia neighbourhood ran deep — so deep that Matthew throughout his entire life was pulled by his sense of duty, which drove him to set his goals.”
Before joining the navy, Pyke was a volunteer firefighter in his hometown Rawdon, N.S., a small community about 55 kilometres north of Halifax.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says all protocols were followed by the military following the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter that crashed last w