Ex-Hollyoaks actor who was first Brit killed fighting ISIS died when a missile hit his armoured vehicle
Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, 25, hailed as a 'daring and courageous companion' by Kurdish forces in Syria
A FORMER Hollyoaks actor who was the first Brit killed fighting ISIS died when a missile blasted his combat vehicle.
Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, 25, was been hailed as a “martyr” by Kurdish forces in Syria who called him a “daring and courageous companion”.
The former Royal Marine – who was of British and Greek nationality – once had a bit part in long-running teen-soap Hollyoaks.
Mr Scurfield travelled to Syria in 2014 to “fulfil his humanitarian goals” and joined the Kurdish People's Protection Unit, known as the YPG.
He bravely fought brutal death cult ISIS for three months before being blown up and was also part of a rescue operation that saved the lives of thousands of Yezidi people stranded on Mount Sinjar.
An inquest heard that Mr Scurfield died while helping rescue refugees from an ISIS stronghold on March 2, last year.
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Mr Scurfield, who had adopted the name Kemal, died when a missile hit his vehicle and exploded near the village of Xizela, Syria.
And because he was manning the gun turret, leaving his head and body exposed, he was the only person in the vehicle killed during the attack.
Nottinghamshire coroner Mairin Casey read out an emotional tribute by Kurdish fighters to Mr Scurfield's family, including his parents Vasiliki and Chris.
Sent by the general command of the YPG, the letter praised his soldier’s desire to help fight ISIS, who they described as "the enemy of all our peoples".
The letter added: "He served with bravery, courage and compassion.
"He too believed that our struggles are not always defined by borders but the protection and freedom of the downtrodden and marginalised.
"We were honoured by his participation with our humble defence force which is built on our own intrinsic desire for freedom.
"Despite the distance between us we found common values in the interest of humanity.
"The respected Scurfield family lost their beloved son and we the YPG lost our daring and courageous companion.
"The loss has caused us sincere sorrow and affected us deeply.
"As the YPG we offer our condolences to first of all your family, as well as all close relatives, and the honourable people of Greece and the UK."
A forensic examination carried out in Syria confirmed Mr Scurfield had suffered wounds which were "entirely in keeping with being caused by an explosive incident".
Following a post mortem examination in the UK, the cause of death was given as 'rocket blast and explosion injuries' that had proved fatal.
Giving evidence at the inquest, Detective Sergeant Danny Johnson, from Nottinghamshire Police, confirmed Mr Scurfield had also served in the Greek Army.
Coroner Mairin Casey recorded a narrative verdict after the inquest at Nottingham Coroner's court on Friday.
She said Mr Scurfield died on March 2 last year from injuries sustained from a missile attack.
Describing the fatal attack, Ms Casey added: "Sadly those injuries were not survivable and he succumbed to his injuries."
Mr Scurfield's body was flown to Manchester Airport, where hundreds turned out to pay tribute before he was laid to rest at Wilford Hill Cemetery in Nottingham.
Last summer Mr Scurfield's mum Vasiliki Scurfield, 49, begged the British Government to do more to fight ISIS who she branded "the new Nazis".
The mum-of-four, who lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, said her son went to Syria to fulfil his humanitarian goals and revealed he was not happy with the British response to the threat of ISIS.
She said: “Every single day for me was measured in minutes of terror.
"I try not to think about it but at the same time I force myself to talk about it.
"I don't understand why the Government isn't helping these fighters.
"It feels like they are only interested when it's close to home.
"But there are British people fighting on both sides of this war, which means we should take responsibility.
"In light of Britons dying in Tunisia I would say that now is the right moment to deal with ISIS."
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