A Canadian soldier killed during an operation in Afghanistan last week stepped on an explosive device and then fell off a cliff, according to new information released by the military.
Earlier military reports had only stated that Pte. Sebastien Courcy died after falling from "high ground."
But on Sunday, Lt.-Col. Mike Patrick, chief of operations for Task Force Kandahar, said that Courcy, 26, "stepped on something that exploded" as his group hiked to a look-out point high above a village south of Kandahar City.
The death occurred on July 16 during Operation Constrictor IV, which was aimed at disrupting a Taliban assembly line near the village of Nakhonay.
Several dozen Taliban militants were using the village as a staging ground for attacks, Patrick said.
Soldiers disassembled four factories dedicated to assembling roadside bombs and confiscated a variety of weapons, such as 50-calibre machine guns, bazookas and suicide vests.
One other Canadian soldier was injured during the operation, which involved about 250 Canadian troops.
The details surrounding the death were initially kept secret because of ongoing military operations, officials said.
However, it is still unclear whether the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device or one of the many old landmines which litter the region, Patrick said.
Courcy was a member of 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment -- also known as the Van Doos -- based at CFB Valcartier outside Quebec City.
Meanwhile, Courcy's remains have arrived back in Canada. Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk were on hand when Courcy's body arrived at CFB Trenton, in Ontario, on Sunday afternoon.
A convoy is expected to carry Courcy's remains along the portion of Highway 401 known as the "Highway of Heroes" to the coroner's office in Toronto.
Courcy was the 125th Canadian soldier to die since the Afghan mission began in 2002. He is survived by his mother, Ginette, and his sister, Julie.
July has so far been a difficult month for Canadian soldiers.
Cpl. Nick Bulger was killed July 3 by a roadside bomb, Master Cpl. Pat Audet and Cpl. Martin Joannette were killed July 6 in a helicopter crash, and Master Cpl. Charles-Phillippe Michaud died July 4 from injuries suffered during a foot patrol in June.
