A former rugby coach for Pte. Hayden Lykkemark says the 19-year-old was widely seen by teammates and classmates as their best friend before he died in a fire at CFB Wainwright.
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Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, 19, died in a fire at CFB Wainwright on Saturday along with three other soldiers, and his former rugby coach says Lykkemark was “always looking out for everybody.”
Trevor Plater, who coached Lykkemark in his senior year at Langley Secondary School in Langley, B.C., said all of Lykkemark’s rugby team and his schoolmates considered him their best friend.
Canada’s military said officials were aware of a wildfire in the area but did not consider it a threat before a violent windstorm blew in, killing four soldiers and sending scores of soldiers to hospital with bad burns.
In addition to Lykkemark, the military identified the other deaths as Pte. Aidan Goulding of North Vancouver, Sgt. Morgan Wong of Edmonton and Pte. Shaun Farrell of Prince Albert, Sask.
Plater said Lykkemark was not afraid to contribute physically on the field, adding that he “wasn’t afraid to make tackles or get in or do his part.” He also described Lykkemark as someone who “wasn’t necessarily somebody who talked a lot but he had a big impact when he did and he was always listening and paying attention.”
Plater said Lykkemark was particularly close to former teammate Kane Lewis, who has set up an online fundraiser for Lykkemark’s family.
In a statement on the donation page, Lewis said he and Lykkemark joined the army at the same time and were in the same platoon for basic training, describing Lykkemark as “more than just a friend” and saying, “That’s where he became more than just a friend; he became a brother. He was always looking out for everyone and always kept himself in check.”
The Langley Rugby Club said in an online statement that Lykkemark was a dedicated student, athlete and friend who made a positive impact on people around him, adding that “Hayden’s legacy of service, friendship, and compassion will not be forgotten.”
The soldiers who died served in the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based at Edmonton.
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