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| Briton Ryan Lock 'killed himself' to avoid IS capture | Briton Ryan Lock 'killed himself' to avoid IS capture |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A British man fighting in Syria "turned the gun on himself" to avoid being taken prisoner, Kurdish sources have told the BBC. | A British man fighting in Syria "turned the gun on himself" to avoid being taken prisoner, Kurdish sources have told the BBC. |
| Ryan Lock, 20, from Chichester in West Sussex, died on 21 December during a battle for the so-called Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa. | Ryan Lock, 20, from Chichester in West Sussex, died on 21 December during a battle for the so-called Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa. |
| He was fighting as a volunteer with the Kurdish armed fighting forces, the YPG. | He was fighting as a volunteer with the Kurdish armed fighting forces, the YPG. |
| The YPG told the BBC that "trace of a gunshot wound was found under the chin", suggesting suicide. | |
| Sources said five fighters came under siege by Daesh in the village of Ja'bar, and they showed "considerable resistance" before they were killed. | Sources said five fighters came under siege by Daesh in the village of Ja'bar, and they showed "considerable resistance" before they were killed. |
| After the bodies were retrieved examinations showed that "it seems that the British fighter committed suicide in order not to fall captive with ISIS". | After the bodies were retrieved examinations showed that "it seems that the British fighter committed suicide in order not to fall captive with ISIS". |
| A report said the gunshot wound indicated "that the gun made contact with the bottom of the chin". | A report said the gunshot wound indicated "that the gun made contact with the bottom of the chin". |
| "This suggests that the fighter committed suicide," it concluded. | "This suggests that the fighter committed suicide," it concluded. |
| 'Outstanding bravery' | 'Outstanding bravery' |
| Kurdish rights activist Mark Campbell from KurdishQuestion.com told BBC South: "Ryan Lock may very well have turned his own gun upon himself rather than be taken prisoner by ISIS. | Kurdish rights activist Mark Campbell from KurdishQuestion.com told BBC South: "Ryan Lock may very well have turned his own gun upon himself rather than be taken prisoner by ISIS. |
| "There are no words to describe the bravery required to take such an action. | "There are no words to describe the bravery required to take such an action. |
| "ISIS were robbed of a predictable macabre propaganda opportunity by Ryan's action. | "ISIS were robbed of a predictable macabre propaganda opportunity by Ryan's action. |
| "I personally believe he deserves the very highest of military honours for such outstanding bravery in the face of such a barbaric enemy." | "I personally believe he deserves the very highest of military honours for such outstanding bravery in the face of such a barbaric enemy." |
| Mr Lock, a chef, had travelled to Syria in August having told friends and family he was going on holiday to Turkey. | Mr Lock, a chef, had travelled to Syria in August having told friends and family he was going on holiday to Turkey. |
| Earlier on Tuesday his body was transported into Iraq in preparation to be flown back to the UK. | Earlier on Tuesday his body was transported into Iraq in preparation to be flown back to the UK. |
| In a statement to the BBC, his father Jon Lock, from Chichester, said: "Since we heard the devastating news of Ryan, it's been pretty tough, especially the difficulties surrounding the repatriation. | In a statement to the BBC, his father Jon Lock, from Chichester, said: "Since we heard the devastating news of Ryan, it's been pretty tough, especially the difficulties surrounding the repatriation. |
| "We are grateful to the YPG for bringing him home." | "We are grateful to the YPG for bringing him home." |
| Mr Lock's body had been in the hands of IS militants. | Mr Lock's body had been in the hands of IS militants. |
| The volunteer, who attended school in Havant, Hampshire, became the third British man to die fighting alongside the Kurds against so-called Islamic State. | The volunteer, who attended school in Havant, Hampshire, became the third British man to die fighting alongside the Kurds against so-called Islamic State. |
| The Foreign Office continues to advise against all travel to Syria. | The Foreign Office continues to advise against all travel to Syria. |