Scott Sibley worked as a HGV driver before jetting off to Ukraine (Picture: Facebook)

The first Briton confirmed to have died defending Ukraine was killed in a shelling attack, a coroner has found.

British Army veteran and father-of-three Scott Sibley, 36, from Immingham, Lincolnshire, died April 22 in the city of Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine.

Senior coroner Darren Salter ruled today that Mr Sibley was ‘killed while on active service for the Ukrainian army’.

Mr Sibley, his mother, Mary, told the Oxford Coroner’s Court by videolink, was a ‘good person’ who ‘would do anything for anyone’.

Working as an HGV driver in South Killingholme when Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Mr Sigby watched in horror at the explosion of bloodshed.

He had served in Afghanistan as part of the Royal Logistic Corps before withdrawing five years earlier, so wanted to use his experience to help.

Scott Sibley felt he had to use his experience as a British Army solider to help out. Pictured: Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy (Picture: Reuters)

Mr Sibley flew from Manchester to Ukraine on March 13 and joined the Mykolaiv branch of the International Brigade of Ukraine, a military unit consisting of foreign civilians.

He would spend five weeks on the frontlines, fighting to ensure Ukraine doesn’t fall into the hands of Kremlin troops.

In a consular report read to the court by the coroner, Mr Sibley’s final moments saw him fight in a small military put, known as a foxhole.

He spent three days inside it while defending Mykolaiv and died only moments after another team of soldiers arrived to relieve him.

‘A drone was seen overhead. Moments later, one mortar landed on the side of the foxhole where Scott was, compromising the foxhole,’ the report said.

‘He ran to another foxhole, and while he was running, another mortar hit him, killing him instantly.’

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Mr Sibley suffered ‘sustained fatal injuries to his chest and abdomen because of the blast, including damage to his left lung and a ruptured kidney.

A forensic pathologist, according to the coroner, said there was ‘nothing that could have been done to have saved his life’.

A Ukrainian death certificate was issued for Mr Sibley on April 25 and his body was sent to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on May 24.

Mrs Sibley said in a statement read to the court: ‘He had heard news about women and children being abused. He wanted to help.

‘He knew Ukraine was requiring assistance, especially from those with military experience, which Scott had.

‘Scott would do anything to help anyone. He had a good heart, and was a good person.’

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Scott Sibley was described by his mother as a ‘good person’.