This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/01/australian-man-reece-harding-killed-helping-kurds-fight-isis-in-syria-reports

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Australian man Reece Harding killed helping Kurds fight Isis in Syria – reports Australian man Reece Harding killed helping Kurds fight Isis in Syria – reports
(about 1 hour later)
A Gold Coast family is struggling to comprehend the death of their young son after he went to Syria to aid Kurdish forces battling Islamic State militants.A Gold Coast family is struggling to comprehend the death of their young son after he went to Syria to aid Kurdish forces battling Islamic State militants.
The family of Reece Harding, 23, has been told he was killed at the weekend when he stepped on a landmine in the war-torn country.The family of Reece Harding, 23, has been told he was killed at the weekend when he stepped on a landmine in the war-torn country.
Father Keith Harding has told the ABC his son would not say where he was going when he left Australia in May, saying only that he needed to get away for a while. His father, Keith Harding, has told the ABC his son would not say where he was going when he left Australia in May, saying only that he needed to get away for a while.
But he later sent a message saying he was doing “humanitarian” work. His family has since been told he met his end in Syria after standing on a landmine.But he later sent a message saying he was doing “humanitarian” work. His family has since been told he met his end in Syria after standing on a landmine.
His father said he got a message on Monday telling him to call an overseas number. When a man answered, he was told: “Reece is gone ... he’s stepped on a landmine. He’s dead.”His father said he got a message on Monday telling him to call an overseas number. When a man answered, he was told: “Reece is gone ... he’s stepped on a landmine. He’s dead.”
The grieving Gold Coast father says he’s shocked by his son’s decision to aid the fight against Isis in Syria, but believes Reece was driven by a sense of justice.The grieving Gold Coast father says he’s shocked by his son’s decision to aid the fight against Isis in Syria, but believes Reece was driven by a sense of justice.
“With all the information that’s spread about on the internet with people beheading people, killing children, raping and beating women, I think it really did get to him in the end,” he told the ABC.“With all the information that’s spread about on the internet with people beheading people, killing children, raping and beating women, I think it really did get to him in the end,” he told the ABC.
“He felt that he wanted to do the right thing and try and stop it in his small way that he could. I’m sure that’s the driving force of him going to do this.”“He felt that he wanted to do the right thing and try and stop it in his small way that he could. I’m sure that’s the driving force of him going to do this.”
Reece’s 17-year-old brother Jordan said he felt conflicted about his brother’s decision to aid forces battling against Isis.Reece’s 17-year-old brother Jordan said he felt conflicted about his brother’s decision to aid forces battling against Isis.
“You’re caught between two ideas – that you don’t want him to be over there, then you understand why he’s over there and why’s he’s doing what he was doing,” he said. “I can say I’m proud of him being over there and I understand his thought process ...”“You’re caught between two ideas – that you don’t want him to be over there, then you understand why he’s over there and why’s he’s doing what he was doing,” he said. “I can say I’m proud of him being over there and I understand his thought process ...”
Tributes have begun to flow on a Lions of Rojava Facebook page, set up by supporters that recruit for the Kurdish-Syrian armed forces, the YPG.Tributes have begun to flow on a Lions of Rojava Facebook page, set up by supporters that recruit for the Kurdish-Syrian armed forces, the YPG.
A post on the Facebook page says Reece was killed on Saturday, 27 June, when he stepped on a landmine at night. A post on the Facebook page says Reece was killed on Saturday 27 June, when he stepped on a landmine at night.
“... our Australian warrior Reece Harding – nom de guerre Heval Bagok Australi – stepped on a mine and died in combat,” it says.“... our Australian warrior Reece Harding – nom de guerre Heval Bagok Australi – stepped on a mine and died in combat,” it says.
It says he stepped on the mine as a firefight broke out and died instantly. Five others were injured when the mine exploded.It says he stepped on the mine as a firefight broke out and died instantly. Five others were injured when the mine exploded.
It says Reece joined the YPG on 4 May.It says Reece joined the YPG on 4 May.
“Not even two months passed and he is now dead. Killed by the cowardly tactics of Isis,” the post reads.“Not even two months passed and he is now dead. Killed by the cowardly tactics of Isis,” the post reads.
The post says Reece is the second “Australian Lion” to give his life, naming the other as “Heval Amed”.The post says Reece is the second “Australian Lion” to give his life, naming the other as “Heval Amed”.
Another post, made on Tuesday after Reece’s death, features photos of another man who also says he’s a 23-year-old Australian, in front of a tank and holding a military assault rifle.“Life back home – I spent a lot of time in a powerlifting gym Iron Underground training for powerlifting competitions. I spent my weekends with family and friends at nice bars and restaurants I had a nice car and a good job,” the man writes.“Why I left – Because I couldn’t sit around any longer watching innocent women and children being raped and slaughtered Isis is a cancers [sic] and needs to be destroyed before it spreads any further.”Another post, made on Tuesday after Reece’s death, features photos of another man who also says he’s a 23-year-old Australian, in front of a tank and holding a military assault rifle.“Life back home – I spent a lot of time in a powerlifting gym Iron Underground training for powerlifting competitions. I spent my weekends with family and friends at nice bars and restaurants I had a nice car and a good job,” the man writes.“Why I left – Because I couldn’t sit around any longer watching innocent women and children being raped and slaughtered Isis is a cancers [sic] and needs to be destroyed before it spreads any further.”