Canadian soldier found dead at undisclosed Persian Gulf base

A Canadian soldier has been found dead at a Persian Gulf military base.

The death of Cpl. Brendan Anthony Downey on Friday has been declared non-combat-related.

Downey, an airman and military police officer based in Dundurn, Sask., was serving at Camp Mirage, a major supply post and staging base for Canadian warships and aircraft. It offers logistical support to Canada's mission in Afghanistan.

The location of Camp Mirage has been previously reported but cannot be revealed under terms of the Canadian Forces embedding agreement for Canadian media.

The military said Downey's body was discovered around 4:15 a.m. local time in the sleeping quarters of the base.

"No further details are available at this time, although enemy action has been ruled out," a military statement said.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Cpl. Downey during this difficult time. Our focus over the next number of days will be to provide the best possible support to the family of our airman and to his colleagues," the military said.

His death is the 11th non-combat fatality in the Afghanistan mission.