Twelve Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) servicemen were taken to a hospital in Australia on September 24, following a vehicle accident during a military exercise.
According to a statement from Singapore’s Defence Ministry, the incident occurred at approximately 7.40pm local time when a Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) rear-ended another while moving back to base at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland.
“12 SAF servicemen sustained non-serious injuries and they have been transported to the hospital. They are currently being treated or recovering well” the ministry reported.
“The safety and well-being of our people is of paramount importance. The Army has called for a safety pause to remind drivers to maintain proper distance. MINDEF/SAF wish the servicemen a speedy recovery” it added.
A spokeswoman from the Queensland Ambulance Service informed Australian media outlet The Courier-Mail that they were alerted to the accident at 8.30pm local time.
The injured servicemen were airlifted to Rockhampton Airport and subsequently transported to Rockhampton Base Hospital for treatment.
According to 9news, ten individuals have been hospitalized following a military training incident involving troops from Australia and Singapore in Central Queensland.
Reports from 9News indicate that the incident occurred around 8:30 PM when an Australian tank and a Singaporean tank collided.
A spokesperson from the Queensland Ambulance Service noted that the military facilitated the transport of ten patients to Rockhampton Airport. There, they were met by ambulances and subsequently taken to the hospital. It remains uncertain whether the injuries sustained were minor or if any Australians are among the hospitalized individuals.
The Australian Defence Force has been approached for further comments regarding the incident. Meanwhile, Singaporean and Australian armed forces have been engaged in joint operations in the region as part of Exercise Wallaby.
This exercise involves approximately 6,200 personnel, along with 490 vehicles and other equipment, and is scheduled to continue until November 3, as per information from Singapore’s Ministry of Defence.
This exercise marks SAF’s largest-ever unilateral overseas exercise in Australia, with the Hunter AFV participating for the first time.
Image via MINDEF
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