A member of the New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) has died following a training incident in Auckland last night. Your playlist will load after this ad NZ Defence Force has confirmed he was Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea, 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment. He was immediately airlifted to Auckland City Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said in a statement. According to the NZDF he successfully completed NZSAS selection and was badged as an NZSAS operator in December 2014. He served in Afghanistan, and was awarded the following medals: New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM), New Zealand Defence Service Medal (NZDSM), New Zealand General Service (NZGSM) and NATO ISAF (Afghanistan). Your playlist will load after this ad The NZDF says "he will be remembered as a professional soldier, a father and friend to many." It comes as the NZDF and the United States Army Aviation Regiment carried out a joint military exercise, involving personnel and aircraft, in Auckland and Waiouru, beginning May 8, and scheduled to finish on May 23, the NZDF said on Facebook. The training exercise, which is being conducted "to practise counter-terrorism integration techniques between the two countries," involves day and night flying, and live firing within the Kaipara Air Weapons Range. The soldier's family has been informed and are being supported following the incident. Your playlist will load after this ad Police are investigating on behalf of the Coroner, and the NZDF will hold a Court of Inquiry into the death, they said. In a statement, Acting Defence Minister Winston Peters said, "Our deepest condolences and sympathies go to the family of the New Zealand SAS trooper killed in a training accident last night. "As the Police and New Zealand Defence Force are investigating the incident, I have no further comment to make at this time."<doc-sep>An SAS soldier has been killed in a training accident in Ardmore, south Auckland. He was helicoptered to Auckland Hospital on Wednesday night, but later pronounced dead. Police are investigating, and the Defence Force says it'll hold a court of inquiry into what happened. The soldier's family have been notified. "The New Zealand Defence Force offers its deepest condolences to all involved and our thoughts and sympathies are with the soldier's family, friends and colleagues," the force said in a statement. Counter-terrorism training exercises involving New Zealand and US troops began on Wednesday. It's not clear yet if this accident was a part of those.<doc-sep>A member of the New Zealand SAS has died after a training accident in Auckland. The trooper was taken by helicopter to Auckland City Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, last night. The soldier's family has been informed and were being supported, the New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement. Police confirmed they were notified about 10pm. Detective senior sergeant Malcolm Hassall, of Counties Manukau police, said they were investigating a "sudden death incident" on behalf of the Coroner involving a member of the NZ Defence Force, following a training accident at Ardmore last night. "Worksafe NZ has been advised and there is no further comment at this time." Police were now investigating on behalf of the Coroner, while the NZDF would hold a Court of Inquiry. The "sudden death incident" took place during a training accident at Ardmore last night. Photo / file The NZDF said it wouldn't be releasing any more information while next of kin were being informed. The SAS opened a new $46 million training facility at Ardmore in 2016. The Papakura four-storey "world class" special operations facility is an all-weather, live firing and 360-degree battle training ground that will allow New Zealand's best soldiers to simulate scenario-specific training. The Defence Force is currently conducting a counter-terrorism exercise with a United States Army Aviation Regiment. The exercise involves a large number of military personnel, including special forces from both countries. Elements of it are being carried out in central Auckland, Whenuapai, Kaipara, Papakura and Waiouru. It involves day and night flying, as well as live firing within the Kaipara Air Weapons Range. The training exercise involves a large number of soldiers and air force staff and feature Black Hawk and NH90 helicopters. Its design was to "practice counter-terrorism integration techniques between the two countries", the spokeswoman said. The SAS is NZ's elite fighting force. In four years from 2013, there were 243 candidates and only 31 succeeded. Members of the NZSAS have conducted operations in a diverse range of places, including Malaya, Borneo, Thailand, Vietnam, Bougainville, Kuwait, East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. The Defence Force's $46m Battle Training Facility opened in 2016. Photo / file Defence Minister Ron Mark is currently in Fiji for bilateral talks and Acting Defence Minister Winston Peters said: "Our deepest condolences and sympathies go to the family of the New Zealand SAS trooper killed in a training accident last night. As the Police and New Zealand Defence Force are investigating the incident, I have no further comment to make at this time." Many Auckland residents heard helicopters over the city last night that were taking part in a military exercise. The Herald is trying to establish if there is any link between that exercise and the soldier's death. At least two helicopters - believed to be military-grade Sikorsky choppers - swooped low over Auckland last night, shaking residents' homes before they landed at the Domain and were greeted by an ambulance. The choppers were part of a military training exercise but many residents were left bewildered and surprised by the force of their power. Residents from other central and eastern suburbs also reported the helicopters flying low. One of the choppers landed on a main sports field at the Auckland Domain - near the historic wooden grandstand - and was greeted by a St John ambulance with flashing lights. The second helicopter hovered as this was happening.<doc-sep>The man who died following an accident during a training exercise in Auckland has been named. He was Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea, 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment. He will be remembered as a professional soldier, a father, and a friend to many. Kahotea joined the New Zealand Army in 2006 as an engineer. In 2014, he was badged as an NZSAS operator. He served in Afghanistan, and was awarded four medals for his service. "He was an outstanding soldier and a top bloke," said Chief of Army Major General John Boswell in a statement on Thursday afternoon. "I know his family, friends and colleagues will be keenly feeling the loss, and we offer our deepest condolences," he said. An investigation into the accident that resulted in Kahotea's death is being investigated by police, on behalf of the Coroner. The exercise, being carried out alongside the United States forces, has been suspended. Newshub.<doc-sep>
The Defence Force would hold a Court of Inquiry into the death. Photo: NZ Herald (file) A member of the New Zealand SAS has died after a training accident in Auckland. The trooper was taken by helicopter to Auckland City Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead last night. The soldier's family has been informed and were being supported, the NZ Defence Force said in a statement. Police were investigating on behalf of the Coroner, while the Defence Force would hold a Court of Inquiry. The Defence Force said it would not be releasing any more information while next-of-kin were being informed. The SAS is New Zealand's elite fighting force. In four years from 2013, there were 243 candidates and only 31 succeeded. Members of the SAS have conducted operations in a diverse range of places, including Malaya, Borneo, Thailand, Vietnam, Bougainville, Kuwait, East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. Defence Minister Ron Mark is in Fiji for bilateral talks and acting Defence Minister Winston Peters could not immediately be reached for comment on the death. Many Auckland residents heard helicopters over the city last night that were taking part in a military exercise. The New Zealand Herald is trying to establish if there is any link between that exercise and the soldier's death. At least two helicopters - believed to be military-grade Sikorsky choppers - swooped low over Auckland last night, shaking residents' homes before they landed at the Domain and were met by an ambulance. The choppers were part of a military training exercise but many residents were left bewildered and surprised by the force of their power. Residents from other central and eastern suburbs also reported the helicopters flying low.