CFB TRENTON, Ont. - The body of the 80th soldier to die in Afghanistan has returned to Canadian soil.
A military plane carrying the flag-draped casket of Bombardier Jeremie Ouellet arrived at CFB Trenton, Ont. on Friday afternoon. Defence Minister Peter MacKay and other dignitaries met the plane.
The 22-year-old Quebec soldier was found dead in his sleeping quarters in Kandahar on Tuesday,
The military has said his death was not combat related and were still investigating the circumstances.
Ouellet, a native of Matane, Que., was stationed at CFB Shilo in southern Manitoba.
In an earlier statement, Ouellet's family called him "a dedicated and professional soldier" who was "serving his country with a lot of honour and pride."
His body was taken by a hearse to Toronto, along a stretch of Highway 401 dubbed Highway of Heroes.
As his funeral procession drove along the highway ordinary Canadians lined the overpasses to pay their respects.