MNR releases name of fallen worker

A Ministry of Natural Resources fire ranger - Kent Cousineau, 33, of Sudbury - has died after being injured on the job nearly a week ago.

Cousineau's name was released during a MNR-led teleconference this morning.

Few other details about the incident were provided.

On Friday, May 9, Cousineau - an MNR employee since 2000 - was seriously injured while working in a field area near Kilarney, southeast of Sudbury.

He succumbed to his injuries on May 14 while under care at a Toronto hospital.

"This is a very sad and difficult time for us within the ministry generally and specifically within aviation and forest fire management," said Art Osborne, a provincial fire information officer with MNR.

"We are making every effort at treating this with sensitivity and respect for the immediate and extended family who are our prime concern at this time," he said. "We are also sensitive to the feelings being experienced by our staff, particularly the co-workers of the individual."

The incident also resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to two of Cousineau's co-workers.

Also from the Sudbury area, they were treated and released from a hospital in that city.

Osborne said the incident is under investigation by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, with full co-operation from the MNR.

"Until that investigation is concluded, we should not speculate on its outcomes," he said. "We are unable to provide a great deal of specifics of [Cousineau's] activity at the time [of his injury] pending the outcome of the Ministry of Labour investigation."

Cousineau was born and raised in Sudbury, where he had a home with his partner, said Osborne.

Funeral arrangements will be provided at a later date.