Inquests to examine deaths during firefighter training exercises

The Saugeen River, where a man died during a training exercise in Hanover, Ont. is seen on Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. (Scott Miller / CTV London)

The deaths of a firefighter and a firefighting student during separate training exercises will be subject to an inquest, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services announced Thursday.

The inquest will cover the deaths of Adam Brunt and Gary Kendall.

Brunt died in February 2015, while undergoing firefighter training on the Saugeen River in Hanover. He drowned after becoming trapped underwater. The exercise was being conducted by Herschel Rescue Training Systems of Newmarket.

Neither police nor the Ministry of Labour laid any charges in connection with his death.

Kendall, a volunteer firefighter, died in a similar incident near Sarnia in 2010.

Jurors at the inquest will be able to issue recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths.

No time or place was announced for the inquest.

With files from CTV Kitchener.