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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine war: Briton Simon Lingard killed in conflict | Ukraine war: Briton Simon Lingard killed in conflict |
| (3 months later) | |
| Simon Lingard was a "true hero", his former partner says | Simon Lingard was a "true hero", his former partner says |
| A British man has been killed while fighting in Ukraine. | A British man has been killed while fighting in Ukraine. |
| Simon Lingard, from Great Harwood, Lancashire, died when his unit was attacked on Monday. | Simon Lingard, from Great Harwood, Lancashire, died when his unit was attacked on Monday. |
| His family described him as "the bravest man" and a "true hero", who went to Ukraine to "stand up for what he believed was right". | His family described him as "the bravest man" and a "true hero", who went to Ukraine to "stand up for what he believed was right". |
| A Foreign Office spokesperson said it was supporting the family of a British national who had lost his life in Ukraine. | A Foreign Office spokesperson said it was supporting the family of a British national who had lost his life in Ukraine. |
| "We are in touch with the local authorities in connection with his death," they added. | "We are in touch with the local authorities in connection with his death," they added. |
| Paying tribute on social media, Mr Lingard's 17-year-old son Jackson said: "I can't put into words how much he is (and will be) missed. | Paying tribute on social media, Mr Lingard's 17-year-old son Jackson said: "I can't put into words how much he is (and will be) missed. |
| "But I'm comforted to know that this happened doing what he loved and surrounded by friends. | "But I'm comforted to know that this happened doing what he loved and surrounded by friends. |
| "I love you dad, I'm so proud of you." | "I love you dad, I'm so proud of you." |
| Mr Lingard (right) had been a soldier most of his life, his former partner said | Mr Lingard (right) had been a soldier most of his life, his former partner said |
| Stacey Longworth, the mother of Mr Lingard's two children, told the BBC he had been a soldier for most of his life and was a former member of the parachute regiment. | Stacey Longworth, the mother of Mr Lingard's two children, told the BBC he had been a soldier for most of his life and was a former member of the parachute regiment. |
| She said she was "just waiting for him to tell me he was going to go" when the Russian invasion started. | She said she was "just waiting for him to tell me he was going to go" when the Russian invasion started. |
| Ms Longworth said she kept in touch with him when possible while he was in Ukraine before getting a phone call on Monday night to say he had been killed. | Ms Longworth said she kept in touch with him when possible while he was in Ukraine before getting a phone call on Monday night to say he had been killed. |
| 'Loved and adored' | 'Loved and adored' |
| "I'm aware they were under attack, and that it was shrapnel, and that it was instant," she said. | "I'm aware they were under attack, and that it was shrapnel, and that it was instant," she said. |
| "I've been in contact with close friends of his in Ukraine. They are absolutely distraught." | "I've been in contact with close friends of his in Ukraine. They are absolutely distraught." |
| She said telling his two sons their father had died had been "the most difficult thing I've ever had to do". | She said telling his two sons their father had died had been "the most difficult thing I've ever had to do". |
| "We want people to remember him as a hero," she said. | "We want people to remember him as a hero," she said. |
| She described Mr Lingard - who was known as Grimmy to his friends - as "very funny [and] an inspiration". | She described Mr Lingard - who was known as Grimmy to his friends - as "very funny [and] an inspiration". |
| "He was loved and adored by so many," she added. | "He was loved and adored by so many," she added. |
| People paid tribute to Simon Lingard at a vigil held in Great Harwood | People paid tribute to Simon Lingard at a vigil held in Great Harwood |
| A vigil was held in Great Harwood earlier, where friends and family gathered to remember him. | A vigil was held in Great Harwood earlier, where friends and family gathered to remember him. |
| Mr Lingard's friend Mickii Edwards, who attended the memorial, described him as an "all-round top guy". | Mr Lingard's friend Mickii Edwards, who attended the memorial, described him as an "all-round top guy". |
| "It was such a shame. We wanted him home but he didn't want to come," he said. | "It was such a shame. We wanted him home but he didn't want to come," he said. |
| "He was just courageous. He was like a lion and I loved him to bits." | "He was just courageous. He was like a lion and I loved him to bits." |
| Mr Lingard's family have also set up a fundraising page, which has so far raised more than £14,000, to help cover the cost of the funeral with the remainder put into a trust for his sons. | Mr Lingard's family have also set up a fundraising page, which has so far raised more than £14,000, to help cover the cost of the funeral with the remainder put into a trust for his sons. |
| Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk | Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | |
| Russia-Ukraine war | |
| Blackburn | |
| Great Harwood | |
| Ukraine |