A British man who travelled to Syria to fight against Isis has been killed by an explosion in the terrorist group’s former stronghold of Raqqa.
Jac Holmes, a 24-year-old former IT worker from Bournemouth, had no military experience before he joined the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in January 2015.
Kurdish representatives in the UK told the BBC he died while clearing an area of landmines to make it safe for civilians.
His mother, Angie Blannin, described him as a “hero” adding: “He loved what he was doing there, he loved being a soldier. He had the courage of his convictions.
”He was just a boy when he left the UK, a little bit lost. He told me he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life.
“But by going out there, he found something that he was good at and that he loved.”
Ms Blannin told the BBC the family believed her son would “be home for Christmas” after surviving the worst of the fighting that drove Isis out of Raqqa last week.
But the terrorist group left the city, like its other lost strongholds, littered with mines, booby-traps and explosives rigged to kill opposition fighters and civilians returning to their homes.
Kurdish officials told Ms Blannin her son had been clearing mines, she said, adding: “It is all a bit sketchy but I am guessing he stepped on a landmine or one went off close to him, or it was a suicide vest.”
The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) confirmed his death with a statement saying: “British YPG fighter Jac Holmes has lost his life in the fight against Isil [Isis] in Syria.”
Mr Holmes, who used the war name Sores Amanos, had been part of the YPG’s “223” sniper team, appearing in videos and images chronicling their operations on social media.
He was posting photos from Raqqa on social media earlier on Monday, with photos from the city’s main stadium showing hundreds of civilians and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (YPG) present.
Mr Holmes was seen inspecting tunnels, Isis jail cells, shooting ranges and a gym.
Kimmie Taylor, a British volunteer with the Kurdish Women’s Protection Units (YPG), tweeted that she felt “broken” by his death.
The friends, along with former finance worker Macer Gifford, are among the British volunteers who travelled to Syria to fight against Isis alongside Kurdish groups.
Michael Enright, an actor who had a role in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, was recently filmed playing an Ariana Grande song in Raqqa as a tribute to the Manchester attack victims.
Mr Holmes’ death brings the number of volunteers from the UK killed to six, following Mehmet Aksoy, Luke Rutter, Ryan Lock, Dean Evans and Konstandinos Erik Scurfield.
The Home Office has warned that anyone travelling to fight in Iraq and Syria – for whatever side – can be prosecuted upon their return.
The Foreign Office has also advised against all travel to Syria, where all British consular services are suspended, making government aid impossible.
Additional reporting by PA
