TORONTO –
One of the four cadet officers who died when their vehicle was submerged in water is remembered as an outgoing athlete who was proud of his hard work at the Royal Military College of Canada.
Andrei Honchiu had a special way of making people feel comfortable and behaving like a “well-trained class clown,” his high school friend Noah Kim said in an interview.
“He was just one of those people who would make everyone laugh.
Honchiu, 22, was in the vehicle with Jack Hogarth, Broden Murphy and Andres Salek when he entered the waters bordering the campus in Kingston, Ont. Each of the men who were ready to graduate died early Friday.
The National Defense released several details of the fatal incident, saying only that four people died after the only car entered Point Frederick’s waters on campus around 2 a.m. The investigation is ongoing.
Hogarth was involved in military and strategic research and hoped to be an officer in an armored regiment, the defense ministry said.
Murphy, a business administration student, worked to become a space environment controller. Salek, a student of military and strategic research, also wanted to be an armored officer.
Honciu has also studied business administration and plans to be a logistics officer.
When Honchiu was returning home to Toronto for the holidays, he often told his friends that learning was difficult and required a lot of hard work, Kim said.
Honchiu said it in a proud way, said Kim, who sensed that his friend felt good about taking on the challenges.
“These were small steps for what he ultimately wanted to do in the future,” Kim said.
Kim said he was initially intimidated by Honchiu when he first met him in math class as a new student at Toronto North High School, but Honchiu took the initiative to break the ice.
“In the end, we chatted a lot in math classes, we probably chatted more than we studied,” Kim said.
The two also loved to play football and soccer together, motivating each other to do better through a friendly match.
Kim said he would also remember Honchiu’s affection for his younger brother. After initially doubting how to handle the baby, Kim said he has embraced the new role and will share photos of the couple together in high school.
“In the end, he leaned toward ‘I’m going to be the best big brother,'” Kim said.
“You know, it’s all very, very sweet. So you just know he has a really big heart.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement that his heart was broken for the families and friends of the four killed, while RMC Commander Josie Kurz said the entire college community was devastated by the loss.
A national defense spokeswoman said details of each memorial service would be communicated at the discretion and discretion of the victims’ families.
“From Amy Smart to Vancouver.”
This Canadian Press report was first published on May 2, 2022.
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