The bodies of slain conservation worker Rory Young and two Spanish journalists were taken to Spain today by the country’s air force.
These sombre pictures show the three coffins being carried into the Torregon de Ardoz airbase in Madrid after being killed in Burkina Faso, West Africa earlier this week.
The Irish national, Spanish journalists David Beriain and Roberto Fraile and a Burkinabe soldier went missing after being attacked by gunmen during an anti-poaching patrol on Monday.
Mr Young, who was born in Zambia to Irish parents and co-founder and president of the Chengeta Wildlife, was named as one of those who died by the wildlife charity on Tuesday evening.
Staff at Chengeta Wildlife have paid tribute to Rory as well as setting up a fundraiser to help support his devastated family.
The fundraiser has already seen more than 100 donations totalling €11,826 at the time of writing.
They said: “After departing Burkina Faso, Rory and the two Spanish journalists accompanying him arrived in Madrid and all were received with military honors.
“Rory is now back home in the Netherlands with his loving family for his final resting place.
Chengeta Wildlife is grateful for the support of the Governments of Burkina Faso, Spain and Ireland and to the Embassies of France and the Netherlands in Ouagadougou for their support in bringing Rory home.
“We are immensely grateful for the overwhelming love, sympathy, support and kind words we have received from Chengeta’s partners, friends, supporters and other conservation organisations since the untimely passing of our co-founder and CEO Rory Young.
“While the news is still raw and we are trying to come to terms with the loss of Rory, we are humbled by how many of you who have kindly reached out and asked how you can support Rory’s family during this incredibly difficult time.
“We are extremely appreciative of this and have now set up the RORY YOUNG FAMILY MEMORIAL FUND to help with the expenses to directly support Rory’s wife and children.
“All funds raised from this GoFundMe page will go entirely to the support of Rory’s wife and children.
“It is not hard to believe that Rory’s last thoughts would have been for his precious family – his beautiful wife and two children.
“From the incredible outpouring of grief from the Chengeta team, friends, supporters and others in the conservation world, we hope he knew that collectively we would try to help his family, at least lessen some of the financial burden his untimely death has brought.
“On behalf of Chengeta Wildlife and Rory’s family, we thank you very much for your contributions."
