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Ukraine: Former British soldier Julian Thorn killed in car crash | Ukraine: Former British soldier Julian Thorn killed in car crash |
(25 days later) | |
Julian Thorn, who was known as Jay, was due to get married | Julian Thorn, who was known as Jay, was due to get married |
A former British soldier has been killed in a car crash in Ukraine, his family has confirmed. | A former British soldier has been killed in a car crash in Ukraine, his family has confirmed. |
Julian Thorn had travelled to the war-torn country to help refugees and train Ukrainian fighters to use military equipment sent from the UK. | Julian Thorn had travelled to the war-torn country to help refugees and train Ukrainian fighters to use military equipment sent from the UK. |
The 36-year-old had served with the Fusiliers and did tours of Afghanistan. | The 36-year-old had served with the Fusiliers and did tours of Afghanistan. |
His fiancée Louise Lathbury was told of his death on 21 May, the day she made his wedding ring at a workshop near their home in Wark, Northumberland. | His fiancée Louise Lathbury was told of his death on 21 May, the day she made his wedding ring at a workshop near their home in Wark, Northumberland. |
An appeal has begun to raise funds to bring his body home. | An appeal has begun to raise funds to bring his body home. |
Ms Lathbury said her partner - who was known as Jay - volunteered to work in Ukraine as it was "something he felt strongly about and wanted to share the skills he had". | Ms Lathbury said her partner - who was known as Jay - volunteered to work in Ukraine as it was "something he felt strongly about and wanted to share the skills he had". |
While there he had done humanitarian work helping refugees on the Ukraine-Poland border. | While there he had done humanitarian work helping refugees on the Ukraine-Poland border. |
Ms Lathbury, originally from Berkshire, said her partner died "instantly" in the crash, which was confirmed by a colleague in Ukraine and the Foreign Office. | Ms Lathbury, originally from Berkshire, said her partner died "instantly" in the crash, which was confirmed by a colleague in Ukraine and the Foreign Office. |
Mr Thorn and his fiancée Louise Lathbury were together for four years | Mr Thorn and his fiancée Louise Lathbury were together for four years |
Mr Thorn's family are hoping to raise £15,000 for the repatriation of his body. | Mr Thorn's family are hoping to raise £15,000 for the repatriation of his body. |
"It would mean everything because we need to bring him back whole," Ms Lathbury said. | "It would mean everything because we need to bring him back whole," Ms Lathbury said. |
"He needs to come back and he needs to be him and so then we can do what's right for him when we get him home. | "He needs to come back and he needs to be him and so then we can do what's right for him when we get him home. |
"I want him to have a nice send-off and be where he loved - he loved Hadrian's Wall and he loved Northumberland and I just want him to come back and be in the place he loved so much." | "I want him to have a nice send-off and be where he loved - he loved Hadrian's Wall and he loved Northumberland and I just want him to come back and be in the place he loved so much." |
Mr Thorn regularly posted images from Ukraine to social media | Mr Thorn regularly posted images from Ukraine to social media |
Ms Lathbury, who was with Mr Thorn for four years, said his death had "left a void in my heart that can never be filled". | Ms Lathbury, who was with Mr Thorn for four years, said his death had "left a void in my heart that can never be filled". |
"To be honest I didn't believe it was real and I did ask, 'Are you sure it's him? Are you sure it's him?'," she said. | "To be honest I didn't believe it was real and I did ask, 'Are you sure it's him? Are you sure it's him?'," she said. |
"But the other thing is we were talking about the wedding and everything and I'd made his wedding ring on that Sunday - and then you think, did I tempt fate by making it? | "But the other thing is we were talking about the wedding and everything and I'd made his wedding ring on that Sunday - and then you think, did I tempt fate by making it? |
"You do, you think silly things like that when it happens. | "You do, you think silly things like that when it happens. |
"I was devastated - it was a surprise and I was going to give it to him when he got back." | "I was devastated - it was a surprise and I was going to give it to him when he got back." |
The 36-year-old had served with the Fusiliers and did tours of Afghanistan | The 36-year-old had served with the Fusiliers and did tours of Afghanistan |
She said any money left over from the fundraising campaign would be donated to another family attempting to repatriate a loved one and to an animal charity. | She said any money left over from the fundraising campaign would be donated to another family attempting to repatriate a loved one and to an animal charity. |
"The thing with Jay is I don't think it was just the Ukraine situation - if he could help he wanted to help no matter what it was," she added. | "The thing with Jay is I don't think it was just the Ukraine situation - if he could help he wanted to help no matter what it was," she added. |
"He loved animals - we've got rescue animals all over the place because he just wanted to help." | "He loved animals - we've got rescue animals all over the place because he just wanted to help." |
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We are providing support to the family of a British man following his death in Ukraine, and are in touch with the local authorities." | A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We are providing support to the family of a British man following his death in Ukraine, and are in touch with the local authorities." |
Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk, external. | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk, external. |