Ukraine war: Briton Simon Lingard killed in conflict

A British man has been killed while fighting in Ukraine.

Simon Lingard, from Blackburn, Lancashire, died when his unit was attacked on Monday.

His family described him as “the bravest man” and a “true hero”, who went to Ukraine to “stand up for what he believed was right”.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said it was supporting the family of a British national who had lost his life in Ukraine.

“We are in touch with the local authorities in connection with his death,” he added.

Stacey Longworth, the mother of Mr Lingard’s two children, said he had been a soldier for most of his life, and when the invasion started, she was “just waiting for him to tell me he was going to go”.

She said she kept in touch with him when possible while he was in Ukraine before getting a phone call on Monday night to say he had been killed.

“I’m aware they were under attack, and that it was shrapnel, and that it was instant,” she said.

“I’ve been in contact with close friends of his in Ukraine. They are absolutely distraught.”

Mr Lingard, who was a former member of the parachute regiment, had two children aged 13 and 17.

“Telling them was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do,” Ms Longworth said.

“We want people to remember him as a hero.

“He was very funny, an inspiration and he was loved and adored by so many.”

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