Kosta - Barnsley warrior who died trying to combat IS atrocities

Konstandinos Erik Scurfield is believed to have travelled to Syria three or four months ago hoping to provide medical and humanitarian support.

He was killed on Monday while fighting alongside Kurdish forces in the frontline village of Tel Khuzela, Kurdish commander Redor Khalil said.

Mr Scurfield, who was an expert in battlefield medicine, is the first Briton to be killed while fighting IS in Syria.

His family said they were “reeling” after receiving the news, which was described as “heartbreaking” by friends.

In a statement issued through the Foreign Office, they said: “We are devastated to confirm the death of our son Konstandinos Erik Scurfield in Syria where he went to support the forces opposing Islamic State.

“His flame might have burned briefly but it burned brightly with love, courage, conviction and honour and we are very proud of him.”

Mr Scurfield’s family had recently spoken to Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis about their fears for his safety.

The Labour MP, who raised the issue in Parliament last month, said their “worst fears had been realised”.

He said: “My first thoughts are with the Scurfield family.

“They came to me a few weeks ago very worried for their son’s safety and tragically it appears their worst fears have been realised.”

Mr Jarvis added: “Erik was an experienced former Royal Marine who was horrified by the atrocities being carried out by ISIS.

“His family’s understanding was that he travelled to Syria hoping to provide medical and humanitarian support as an expert in battlefield medicine.”

Vicci Scurfield, the ex-Royal Marine’s mother, told Sky News that the family, who live in a detached former farmhouse in the village of Royston, South Yorkshire, was “reeling”.

The family did not want to say anything else as they returned home this morning but neighbours described their shock at the news.

Mary Jane Hemmings said the news was “heartbreaking”.

She said: “I’ve been so shocked. I really am terribly, terribly upset.

“It doesn’t surprise me that he went because he seemed to do everything 100% and he seemed to have deep feelings. He was very conscientious, he was a lovely person.”

She added: “He was a very strong-willed man, I would say, and he knew what he was about. I am sure he knew what he was doing.”

Neighbour David Miller said Mr Scurfield’s parents, Chris and Vicci, are archaeologists and his sister, Georgianna, was a student.

Dr Miller said: “It’s tragic.”

He added: “The children moved away and I’m not sure how Erik got involved in Syria but it would be in keeping with their sense of duty and honour.

“They are good British people and it would make sense that he would go all the way to Syria to fight against ISIS.”

Mr Scurfield was named yesterday by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).

A statement on the Kurdish Question website read: “We can confirm that Konstandinos Erik Scurfield died in battle, probably in Hasakah although the full details are yet to be announced by YPG.”

Mark Campbell, a pro-Kurdish rights campaigner, said he broke the news to Mr Scurfield’s mother.

He said: “It was just awful, to be honest. Just to receive a phone call with that sort of news was just devastating.

“It was so incredibly difficult, it was very, very emotional, she was literally in tears the whole conversation.

“I really just wanted to inform her, to give her a message from the YPG that they have said they would love to bury Konstandinos as one of their comrades in arms, as a hero, but equally they also want to be guided by the family and will respect the wishes of the family.”

Mr Campbell said Mr Scurfield’s death also had a great impact on his friends and colleagues.

He said: “I’ve got a message from Jordan Matson saying that he is lying with his (Mr Scurfield’s) body.

“I think he’s been incredibly affected by his death as well, I think he was one of his closest friends.”

Mr Matson, believed to be a former US soldier fighting with the Kurds, paid tribute on Facebook to Mr Scurfield, describing him as a “disciplined warrior”.

He posted: “Words cannot describe how honored I have been to fight at your side Sehid Kemal (Konstandions Erik Sculfield).

“We were together from his first day here and you couldn’t ask for a more disciplined warrior.

“Kosta, as we call him, was from the United Kingdom and was born a Greek citizen. He served both in the Greek army and as a British Royal Marine commando up until he came here. He served with me in Jezza and Shengal.

“Kosta volunteered for every attack and guard duty opportunity. He wanted nothing more than to bring the fight to the enemy.

“I’m going to carry on your legacy, brother, I will never forget you. I love you, man. Save me a place up there, big guy.”

Mr Campbell said he thought Mr Scurfield had been in Syria for three to four months.

A picture emerged which appeared to show him wearing military fatigues and holding an assault rifle with several foreign fighters and Kurds.

Mr Campbell said he believed Mr Scurfield had seen what was happening in Syria and was “frustrated” that the UK Government was not helping the Kurds fight IS.

He said: “The people are just going there with this feeling of frustration that the UK Government is not doing anything.

He added: “If the Kurds are left to fight alone, and I think that’s the feeling people have, they want to help in some way and they go there. And because the war is continuing and these battles are going on every single day, if there’s no support for them I think possibly we will hear of more of these tragedies.”

While high numbers of foreigners are known to have joined IS, around 100 Westerners - including several Britons - are thought to have fought alongside the Kurds.

Last month, a 19-year-old serving British soldier was returned to his unit after joining the Kurdish peshmerga.

It was reported that he left his base after telling his family he was joining the Kurdish military forces in their battle against IS because ‘’these guys need our help’’.

In a letter to his family he claimed to have met other British people and a Canadian while there.

In December it emerged that two former British soldiers had travelled to Syria to fight against IS after feeling ‘’compelled’’ to take up arms following the murder of aid volunteer Alan Henning.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of reports of the death of a British national in Syria.

“The UK has advised for some time against all travel to Syria, where all UK consular services are suspended.

“As we do not have any representation in Syria, it is extremely difficult to get any confirmation of deaths or injuries and our options for supporting British nationals there are extremely limited.”

A neighbour and friend of the family called Mr Scurfield a “wonderful, principled young man” - and a failed actor.

Mary Jane Hemmings, who lives next door to the family in Barnsley, said: “It doesn’t surprise me that he went to fight against ISIS.

“But I didn’t know he was there. I’m not even sure his family knew.”

Ms Hemmings, who has known the family since they moved in 14 years ago, said she had always taken an interest in the children.

She said: “I would often talk to Kosta. He went to university to study drama and had hopes of being an actor.

“He graduated and got a couple of bits of work in TV but he never made it, he then realised he needed a job.

“It was then that he considered the forces and became a marine when he was around 21. He had a wonderful personality, a friendly person, and a handsome young man.

“As a child he was super looking and he grew up to be a film star and when he was wanting to go into acting I thought he would be super.”

Ms Hemmings added: “I always asked after Kosta and what he was up to lately. It does not surprise me he went to fight against ISIS. He was strong-willed and always seemed conscientious in whatever he did, and he enjoyed his job.

“He knew what he was about and I’m sure he knew what he was doing when he signed up to go to Syria.

“I am very sad and shocked at the news.”

Mr Scurfield’s mother, Vicci, and sister, Georgianna, said they did not want to speak as they returned to the family home this morning.

Neighbour David Miller said Mr Scurfield’s parents are archaeologists and his sister was a student.

Dr Miller said: “It’s tragic.

“I met Chris and Vicci when they first moved in. They are very nice people. family orientatated, archaeologists I believe.

“They’ve got very good jobs. They work in the area and away from home at times.

“The children moved away and I’m not sure how Erik got involved in Syria but it would be in keeping with their sense of duty and honour. They are good British people and it would make sense that he would go all the way to Syria to fight agaisnt Isis.”

Dr Miller said he did not know too much about Mr Scurfield’s life after he left Royston.

He said: “I don’t know much about his career but he obviously had a sense of duty. The family always struck me as being very principled.

“The family as whole, they’re good neighbours. They’re very nice people. Chris and Vicci are hard-working. They look after their family well.

“It’s all come as a real shock. We’ve seen how Isis deals with captives and hostages and any death fighting against them, in my opinion, shows the man’s deep sense of duty.”

The North East Counter Terrorism Unit said in a statement: We are aware that large numbers of British nationals are travelling to the Middle East. These people are from across the UK and this problem is not specific to a particular area.

“We do know that some of those travelling are from Yorkshire. However, we would not provide a breakdown of how many there are or where they are from. While these people may be travelling for a variety of reasons, travel to the Middle East for any purpose is extremely unsafe and strongly discouraged.

“Anyone who is concerned about a friend or loved one who is planning to travel should come forward and speak to police.

You can call local police on 101 and they’ll talk with you in confidence.”

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• Kosta: Tributes to ex-Marine killed in Syria