I die unexpectedly during a walk on Swiss vice-cancer Mountain, Andre Simonaz

The Swiss government has announced that Switzerland's deputy commander, Andre Simonaz, died Friday at age 55.

Simonaz, the father of three children, changed his life unexpectedly to <x0hiking” with his family, the government announced in a statement thanking him for his postcancer service since 2009, reports Swissinfo.

Switzerland's political parties expressed their pain and condolences to Simonaz's family.

Simonaz studied at the Institute of International Relations in Geneva, according to his official biography, and worked as a journalist and communications officer before joining the government. After himself he left his wife and three grown children.