A CANTERBURY-based soldier has died following a parachuting accident while training with his regiment in Canada.

Ranger Stuart McMaster, 20, of The Royal Irish Regiment, was stationed at Howe Barracks.

The accident happened on Saturday afternoon when he was involved in parachute training at the Skydive Ranch in Beiseker, near Calgary, where the regiment is on exercise.

Ranger McMaster, who is single and whose family home is in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, was taking part in a 5,000 ft free fall jump when his chute is believed to have become tangled and he plummeted to the ground.

An MoD spokesman said his family had been informed and an investigation into what caused the accident was underway.

He added: "Soldiers are involved in all kinds of training and some volunteer for parachuting. Ranger McMaster had made several successful jumps before and this appears to be a tragic accident."

Training has stopped at the Skydive Ranch pending the outcome of the accident investigation.