Former Royal Marine Killed Fighting IS in Syria

A former Royal Marine who was helping Kurdish forces fight Islamic State militants in Syria has been killed. 

He has been named by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as Konstandinos Erik Scurfield from Barnsley, South Yorkshire. 

He's the first Briton to die while fighting against IS in Syria and had served in 45 Commando.

It's understood he was killed when the armoured vehicle he was in was hit by a missile launched by Islamic State militants. 

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."

Vicci Scurfield, the ex-Royal Marine's mother, said the family, who live in the village of Royston, was "reeling".

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."

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

Hannah King, meanwhile, has more from Barnsley.