A British man has been killed whereas volunteering as a medic in Ukraine, his sister has mentioned.
Craig Waterproof coat, 48, from Thetford, Norfolk, died "within the line of responsibility" on 24 August, Lorna Waterproof coat mentioned.
Ms Waterproof coat has raised greater than £10,000 on a GoFundMe web page to deliver her brother's physique again to the UK, asking: "Please assist us deliver this battle hero dwelling."
The International Workplace mentioned it was supporting the household.
Writing on the fundraising web page, Ms Waterproof coat mentioned: "Our brother bravely volunteered to go to [Ukraine] as a medic to assist save lives on this battle torn nation.
"This selfless man is at the moment stranded in a morgue in Ukraine and there’s no assist to get him dwelling."
She mentioned it could value round £4,000 to return his physique to the UK.
"Now we have spoken to a global funeral supplier and it's going to value round £4,000 to have him repatriated again to the UK," she mentioned.
"He gave his life to avoid wasting others and he wants to come back again dwelling to have the service he deserves.
"A real hero's service surrounded by his household and associates. Please, please assist to deliver our hero dwelling."
Mr Waterproof coat's companion, Natasha Lovett, 40, mentioned the household had tried to speak him out of returning for a second time to Ukraine.
"Nevertheless it was simply in his blood – he simply had to assist and wished to make a distinction."
A panorama gardener, he had educated as a medic throughout his time serving with the Territorial Military when he was youthful, she mentioned.
The couple had been in contact day-after-day whereas he was on the market, however when she final spoke to him on 23 August, the day earlier than he was killed, he had informed her it was "going to be a busy few days, so don't flap".
He had promised her he could be again dwelling within the UK on 3 October.
"However that wasn't to be," she mentioned.
"He was a real hero – however he was a hero to me earlier than he went on the market."
Mr Waterproof coat had been serving with the militia hooked up to the Ukrainian military, his good friend, George Dyson mentioned.
It was Mr Waterproof coat's second tour of the nation and he was close to the town of Kharkiv when he was shot.
The pair had been final in contact through an encrypted messaging web site on 18 August, when Mr Waterproof coat informed him his unit was below heavy fireplace, Mr Dyson mentioned.
He mentioned he was wanting ahead to coming dwelling.
"He informed me, 'this will likely be my final hurrah, so to talk'.
"He mentioned he had 46 days left till his flight dwelling, and mentioned 'that's it, I'm going again to gardening'."
Posting a tribute to his good friend on social media, Mr Dyson wrote that on the day Mr Waterproof coat was killed, his "unit was pinned down and sustained casualties and Craig [being] a medic, did his job and was helping in serving to his fellow troopers, and on operating throughout open floor was sadly shot…"
He added: "I've simply spoken to one of many guys that was hooked up to Craig's crew and he mentioned that Craig fought with nice bravery and [honour]."
Turner Funerals in Mr Waterproof coat's dwelling city is arranging for his physique to be introduced again to the UK.
Its director, Lydia Turner mentioned: "Now we have recognized the household and Craig for a few years."
She mentioned Mr Waterproof coat had wished to hitch the British Military when he was youthful, however a medical situation meant he couldn’t, so he joined the Territorial Military as an alternative.
"It was his ardour to assist and to go on the market to Ukraine to make a distinction," she mentioned.
"When he got here again, he knew he simply needed to go on the market once more."
She mentioned two of the funeral firm's employees could be driving the 1,600 miles to Ukraine and had been working intently with the British Consulate and Ukraine police.
Mr Waterproof coat had been taken to Lozova, south of Kharkiv, however they had been hoping his physique could possibly be moved to a safer location as Lozova was below heavy fireplace, she mentioned.
A International Workplace spokesperson informed the PA information company: "We’re supporting the household of a British man who has died in Ukraine and are involved with the native authorities."
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