British chef killed after travelling to Syria with no military experience to fight ISIS
Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
A British man has been killed in Syria after travelling to the war-torn country with no military experience to fight ISIS.
Ryan Lock, 20, from Chichester, West Sussex, died on December 21 during an operation by anti-Islamic State forces in Raqqa.
His family - who Mr Lock is understood to have told he was going on holiday - confirmed his death in a statement.
His father Jon said: “Ryan was a very caring and loving boy who would do any thing to help anyone. He had a heart of gold. We ask for privacy to allow our family to grieve.”
(Photo: Facebook)
The Guardian reports Lock worked as a chef to travel to Syria and join the People’s Defence Units (YPG), the Kurdish military force fighting in northern Syria.
The YPG released a statement offering their condolences to his family.
It said: “Ryan joined actively in our offensive against the terror threat that Isis caused upon Rojava, Kurdistan. Here, on the dark hours of 21 December 2016, we lost our brave companion Ryan and four other fighters in Jaeber village.
“Ryan was not only a fighter providing additional force to our struggle. In fact, with his experience and knowledge he has been an example for younger fighters.
While he has reached a vast amount of achievement up in our frontlines, Ryan has served the purpose of a very important bridge between us, the Kurds of Rojava. He crossed continents for the destiny of our people and humanity.”
After telling family and friends he was going on holiday, Mr Lock revealed his real intentions in a Facebook post on August 31.
(Photo: Reuters)
He wrote: “I’m on my way to Rojava. I lied about going to Turkey. I’m sorry I didn’t tell anyone. I love all of you and I will be back in six months.”
In November, he posted a picture of himself with facial injuries, along with the words: “We were taking a small village when we got hit by Turkish jets in the night. Two of my friends, Anton and Michael, were killed among many others. I’m staying to finish out my six months. F*** [Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan and f*** Turkey.”
Raqqa has been under Isis control since early 2014 and has become the symbolic capital of the terror group.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said on Monday: “The UK has advised for some time against all travel to Syria.
"As all UK consular services there are suspended, it is extremely difficult to confirm the status and whereabouts of British nationals in Syria.
"Anyone who does travel to these areas, for whatever reason, is putting themselves in considerable danger.”