The fatality occured on December 14 when the unnamed serviceman "had been engaged in sports during his free time and died during a running exercise," according to the statement.
"At this sad time, our thoughts are with the family and service members of the Polish soldier who has passed away," Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks said.
"This is a difficult time because we have lost one of our own - a soldier," said Latvian Defense Chief Lieutenant General Leonīds Kalniņs, "I extend my sincere condolences, though words are inadequate to express the loss, to the family and colleagues of the Polish solider who passed away."
We are truly sorry to hear of the loss of the soldier of our close ally - Polish Armed Forces. My deepest sympathies to the family, friends and service members. Our hearts go out to you in this difficult time. @eFPBGLatvia @Poland_MOD pic.twitter.com/FBAY7Pa6qZ
— Ģenerālleitnants Leonīds Kalniņš (@LeonidsKalnins) December 15, 2019
Poland has around 160 soldiers serving in the NATO battlegroup in Latvia as part of a 1,400-strong contingent that also includes troops from Albania, the Czech Republic, Italy, Canada, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain as well as Latvia.
It is not the first fatality among the battlegroup. As previously reported by LSM, two Albanian soldiers died earlier this year as the result of an accident during bomb disposal operations.
