Tributes have been paid to Simon Lingard who was killed fighting in Ukraine (Picture: Facebook / GoFundMe)
The family of a British father have paid tribute to the ‘real hero’ who was killed fighting in Ukraine.
Simon Lingard, died ‘fighting for what he believed in’ his family said, as they announced the sad news after his death on Monday.
The Afghan war veteran, known as Grimmy, was killed when his trench was hit by a Russian shell, it has been reported.
At least two other Brits were injured in the blitz in Bakhmut in devastated eastern Donbas, former comrades have said.
Simon was killed in on Monday (Picture: Facebook)
The family of the dad-of-two are heartbroken (Picture: Facebook)
The Afghan war veteran died ‘doing what he loved’ his family have said (Picture: Facebook)
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The dad-of-two from Blackburn served in the elite Special Forces Support Group – which supports SAS and SBS missions.
Paying tribute on social media, Simon’s 17-year-old son Jackson said: ‘After years of dedicating his time and effort to protecting our country, my dad still had more fight in him and left the country to protect the people of Ukraine against the Russian army too.
‘My heart is broken to announce that his troop was attacked and Dad has passed away in battle, a true hero and beloved to so many of us.
‘I can’t put into words how much he is and will be missed, but I’m comforted to know that this happened doing what he loved and surrounded by friends.
‘I love you dad, I’m so proud of you.’
He was part of a band of British volunteers defending the iconic town of Bakhmut in Donetsk province from wave after wave of Russian assaults.
Mr Lingard was killed on Monday after fighting in Bakhmut (Picture: Family Handout)
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Mr Lingard’s ex-wife Stacey Longworth, and mum to his sons Jackson, 17, and Keane, 13, told the Evening Standard: ’He deserves for the world to know he was a hero.
‘I’m extremely proud of him. Simon was a true representation of what a soldier should be and a hero.’
Relatives said the Ukrainian military has offered to bring him back to the UK, and have set up a fundraising page for his funeral.
Posting online his family said: ‘The Ukrainian military have offered to bring him home to England but we need help to show him the respect and adoration he deserves by giving him THE greatest well deserved send-off.
‘Could you all please find it in your heart to donate anything no matter how small so we can honour our dad and allow him to finally Rest in Peace.’
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British national who has lost his life in Ukraine and we are in touch with the local authorities in connection with his death.
‘Our thoughts are with their family at this difficult time.’
More: News
In June, ex-British soldier Jordan Gatley was hailed a hero by both his family and an adviser to the war-torn country’s president after he was killed while fighting in Ukraine.
Mr Gatley was shot dead in the city of Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine.
He left the British Army in March and travelled to Ukraine to help forces there ‘after careful
In April, tributes were paid to Scott Sibley, a British military veteran reportedly killed in Ukraine while fighting against Russian forces.
At that time the Foreign Office confirmed a British national had died in Ukraine.
A small number of serving British personnel are believed to have gone absent without leave to join the resistance against the Russian invasion, while veterans and Britons without combat experience are thought to have also travelled to Ukraine.
It comes as Putin’s troops have withdrawn from Kherson – a key Ukrainian city which could be a major indicator of the waning strength of Russian troops.
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Tributes have been paid to the Afghan war veteran who was killed when a Russian shell hit his trench, it has been reported
