Body of Briton - who went to Syria to fight Islamic State - returns home to hero's welcome
THE body of the first Briton to be killed while fighting against Islamic State terrorists has returned home to a hero's welcome.
Kosta may not have been supporting British political interests with his actions but he was certainly supporting British values
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Manchester Airport to pay tribute to former Royal Marine Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, who was reportedly shot dead in Syria while fighting alongside Kurdish forces in the war-torn region.
The 25-year-old's body was given to his father Chris and uncle last weekend during a ceremony on the Syria-Iraq border, involving hundreds of Syrian Kurds.
And today crowds of people threw red and yellow roses - the official colours of the Kurdistan Democratic Union party (PYD) - to pay tribute to the fallen soldier, who has been hailed a martyr in Manchester's Kurdish community.
Mourners appeared teary-eyed as they shouted "martyr" and "hero" when a private ambulance bearing Mr Scurfield's body was driven past them.
Mr Scurfield, who was an expert in battlefield medicine, is believed to have travelled to Syria three or four months ago.
He is thought to have been hoping to provide medical and humanitarian support.
Last week his mother, Vasliki Scurfield, spoke of her pride during a reception in Parliament.
She said: "Kosta was not a mercenary, he wasn't an out of work soldier looking for an adventure or something to do to pass the time.
"And although this is not the way that many of us would have had him choose, it is the way he considered best for him and I'm proud of him for finding the courage to do this."
She added: "Kosta may not have been supporting British political interests with his actions but he was certainly supporting British values."
Mr Scurfield's former partner previously described him as "amazing" for his "unselfish act".
Jemma Weston said that although the couple had broken up, Mr Scurfield had contacted her to say he wanted to return home to her.
The 23-year-old said that his death had "left a huge hole in my hole."
His body will be later to taken to Leicester, where a post-mortem examination will take place.
Kurdish rights campaigners have urged the British government to do more to oppose the Islamic State terror group.
