The Foreign Office building in Westminster, London. Bloomberg
The Foreign Office building in Westminster, London. Bloomberg
The Foreign Office building in Westminster, London. Bloomberg
The Foreign Office building in Westminster, London. Bloomberg

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Simon Lingard: British man 'died in Ukraine fighting for what he believed in'

Heartbroken family described British father as a 'real-life hero'

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

November 10, 2022

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The family of a British father who was killed in Ukraine have described him as a “real life hero”.

Simon Lingard's loved ones said he “died fighting for what he believed in”.

The Foreign Office said it was supporting the family of a British national who died in the war-torn country.

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Russia orders troops to leave Kherson in major retreat

The Ukrainian military has offered to return him to England, Lingard’s relatives said.

But the family have also set up a fund-raising page asking for support to give him a fitting send-off.

“As most people are aware my dad, Simon Lingard, (Grimmy) sadly lost his life in Ukraine on Monday November 7," the family wrote on the GoFundMe page.

“My dad was an inspiration to all who knew him, a real-life hero who died fighting for what he believed in.

"He was loved and adored by so many, a true representation of what a soldier should be.”

Ukraine war latest - in pictures

Smoke rises on the outskirts of the city during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters
Smoke rises on the outskirts of the city during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters
Workers surround the Monument to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred with sandbags against damage from shelling in Mykolaiv. EPA
Workers surround the Monument to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred with sandbags against damage from shelling in Mykolaiv. EPA
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev for talks before a meeting between the Russian president and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia. AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev for talks before a meeting between the Russian president and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia. AFP
People take water from a water pump in Kyiv. EPA
People take water from a water pump in Kyiv. EPA
A woman walks past a damaged building in the town of Nova Kakhovka. Reuters
A woman walks past a damaged building in the town of Nova Kakhovka. Reuters
A woman outside her home, which was destroyed during battles at the start of the conflict, in Yahidne, Chernihiv. Getty Images
A woman outside her home, which was destroyed during battles at the start of the conflict, in Yahidne, Chernihiv. Getty Images
People shelter inside a subway station during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters
People shelter inside a subway station during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters
Firefighters at the site of a drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
Firefighters at the site of a drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
A woman walks past the site of a Russian missile strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. Reuters
A woman walks past the site of a Russian missile strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. Reuters
Rescuer workers at a building destroyed in an attack in Mykolaiv. Reuters
Rescuer workers at a building destroyed in an attack in Mykolaiv. Reuters
Parts of a drone lie on a street in Kyiv. Reuters
Parts of a drone lie on a street in Kyiv. Reuters
A drone flies over the Ukrainian capital during an attack. AFP
A drone flies over the Ukrainian capital during an attack. AFP
Ukrainian servicemen tow a captured Russian armoured vehicle in Rudneve village, Kharkiv. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen tow a captured Russian armoured vehicle in Rudneve village, Kharkiv. EPA
A partially destroyed residential building in Saltivka, in Kharkiv. AP
A partially destroyed residential building in Saltivka, in Kharkiv. AP
Ukrainian servicemen fire a captured Russian howitzer on a front line near Kupyansk city, Kharkiv. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen fire a captured Russian howitzer on a front line near Kupyansk city, Kharkiv. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen near the recently retaken town of Lyman in Donetsk region. AFP
Ukrainian servicemen near the recently retaken town of Lyman in Donetsk region. AFP
An officer from a Ukrainian national police emergency demining team prepares to detonate collected anti-tank mines and explosives near Lyman, in the Donetsk region. AFP
An officer from a Ukrainian national police emergency demining team prepares to detonate collected anti-tank mines and explosives near Lyman, in the Donetsk region. AFP
A boy playing on a destroyed Russian tank on display in Kyiv. AFP
A boy playing on a destroyed Russian tank on display in Kyiv. AFP
A young couple hiding underground during an air alert in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
A young couple hiding underground during an air alert in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
Ukrainian firefighters looking for survivors after a strike in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
Ukrainian firefighters looking for survivors after a strike in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
Workers fix a banner reading 'Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson - Russia!' to the State Historical Museum near Red Square in Moscow. AFP
Workers fix a banner reading 'Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson - Russia!' to the State Historical Museum near Red Square in Moscow. AFP
Residents try to cross a destroyed bridge in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. AFP
Residents try to cross a destroyed bridge in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. AFP
Alyona Kishinskaya helps to clean up a shop as it prepares to reopen in Balakiya, Ukraine, after a six-month Russian occupation. Getty Images
Alyona Kishinskaya helps to clean up a shop as it prepares to reopen in Balakiya, Ukraine, after a six-month Russian occupation. Getty Images
Alla, 12, has a swinging time in Balakiya, Ukraine, as life goes on despite the war. Getty Images
Alla, 12, has a swinging time in Balakiya, Ukraine, as life goes on despite the war. Getty Images
Ukrainian flags in the town square in Balakiya. Getty Images
Ukrainian flags in the town square in Balakiya. Getty Images
A destroyed Russian command centre in Izium, Ukraine. Getty Images
A destroyed Russian command centre in Izium, Ukraine. Getty Images
In what may be a final farewell, young Russian recruits - escorted by their wives - walk to a train station in Volgograd before being sent to war in Ukraine. AP
In what may be a final farewell, young Russian recruits - escorted by their wives - walk to a train station in Volgograd before being sent to war in Ukraine. AP
Russian recruits board the train to Ukraine in Volgograd. AP
Russian recruits board the train to Ukraine in Volgograd. AP
Ukrainian soliders drive a tank at the recently retaken eastern side of the Oskil River in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. AFP
Ukrainian soliders drive a tank at the recently retaken eastern side of the Oskil River in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. AFP
Volunteers pass boxes of food aid on a destroyed bridge over the Oskil River. AFP
Volunteers pass boxes of food aid on a destroyed bridge over the Oskil River. AFP
Ukrainian soliders rest on an armoured personnel carrier. AFP
Ukrainian soliders rest on an armoured personnel carrier. AFP
A sign warns of landmines in Izyum, eastern Ukraine. AFP
A sign warns of landmines in Izyum, eastern Ukraine. AFP
This crater was left after a missile strike in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. AFP
This crater was left after a missile strike in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. AFP

They described being “absolutely heartbroken” at their loss.

“The Ukrainian military have offered to bring him home to England but we need help to show him the respect and adoration he deserves by giving him the greatest well-deserved send-off," they wrote.

“Could you all please find it in your heart to donate anything, no matter how small, so we can honour our dad and allow him to finally Rest in Peace.”

A Foreign Office representative said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who has lost his life in Ukraine and we are in touch with the local authorities in connection with his death.

“Our thoughts are with their family at this difficult time.”

In June, former British soldier Jordan Gatley was hailed a hero by his family and an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after he was killed while fighting in Ukraine.

Gatley was shot dead in the city of Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine.

He left the British Army in March and travelled to Ukraine to help forces there “after careful consideration”, his father said.

Gatley, who it is understood was a rifleman with the Edinburgh-based third battalion of The Rifles, was also praised by Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Mrr Zelenskyy, who said he would always be remembered for his contribution.

Antonov AN-225 destroyed by Russia in Ukraine - in pictures

The wreckage of an Antonov AN-225, the world's biggest aircraft, sits under a steel shelter at Gostomel airfield near Kyiv in April 2022. EPA
The wreckage of an Antonov AN-225, the world's biggest aircraft, sits under a steel shelter at Gostomel airfield near Kyiv in April 2022. EPA
The cargo plane, named Mriya (which means Dream in Ukrainian), was destroyed during a heavy battle with Russian troops at the airfield earlier this year. Reuters
The cargo plane, named Mriya (which means Dream in Ukrainian), was destroyed during a heavy battle with Russian troops at the airfield earlier this year. Reuters
The Soviet-era plane was a symbol of Ukraine's identity and was cherished by aviation enthusiasts. AP
The Soviet-era plane was a symbol of Ukraine's identity and was cherished by aviation enthusiasts. AP
Poland's Minister of Interior and Administration Mariusz Kaminski stands near the heavily damaged plane on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Poland's Minister of Interior and Administration Mariusz Kaminski stands near the heavily damaged plane on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
The Ukrainian plane had six engines, 32 wheels and wingspan that matched the length of a football pitch. AP
The Ukrainian plane had six engines, 32 wheels and wingspan that matched the length of a football pitch. AP
A Ukrainian man searches for unexploded explosives near the damaged plane. AP
A Ukrainian man searches for unexploded explosives near the damaged plane. AP
The aircraft's role in the aviation industry took on greater significance amid the coronavirus pandemic, as it delivered tonne after tonne of vital aid to countries worldwide. AP
The aircraft's role in the aviation industry took on greater significance amid the coronavirus pandemic, as it delivered tonne after tonne of vital aid to countries worldwide. AP
The Mriya entered commercial service in 2001 and was originally developed to transport the Energiya carrier-rocket and Buran space shuttle. AP
The Mriya entered commercial service in 2001 and was originally developed to transport the Energiya carrier-rocket and Buran space shuttle. AP
The aircraft could carry a maximum payload of 250,000 kilograms, and had a wingspan of 88 metres. Its size meant it could fit a helicopter or haulage lorry inside. AFP
The aircraft could carry a maximum payload of 250,000 kilograms, and had a wingspan of 88 metres. Its size meant it could fit a helicopter or haulage lorry inside. AFP
Ukrainian soldiers stand in front of the destroyed plane. Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers stand in front of the destroyed plane. Reuters
The aircraft was more than seven metres longer than a Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and 11 metres longer than the Airbus A380-800, the largest passenger plane. AFP
The aircraft was more than seven metres longer than a Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and 11 metres longer than the Airbus A380-800, the largest passenger plane. AFP
It was the only Antonov An-225 in the world. AP
It was the only Antonov An-225 in the world. AP
A second version was in the making and reached about 70 per cent completion in the mid-2000s before progress was halted because of the cost involved. AP
A second version was in the making and reached about 70 per cent completion in the mid-2000s before progress was halted because of the cost involved. AP
Since its first flight in 1988, it claimed 242 world records, according to Antonov Airlines. AP
Since its first flight in 1988, it claimed 242 world records, according to Antonov Airlines. AP
The Mriya touched down at Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport in May 2016 after visiting Perth in Australia to deliver a 117-tonne generator. AFP
The Mriya touched down at Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport in May 2016 after visiting Perth in Australia to deliver a 117-tonne generator. AFP
The Mriya was so large that the length of its cargo hold was longer than the Wright brothers’ first flight, from take-off to landing. Reuters
The Mriya was so large that the length of its cargo hold was longer than the Wright brothers’ first flight, from take-off to landing. Reuters
It cost around $30,000 an hour to hire the plane. Reuters
It cost around $30,000 an hour to hire the plane. Reuters

In April, tributes were paid to Scott Sibley, a British military veteran reportedly killed in Ukraine while fighting against Russian forces.

A small number of serving British personnel are believed to have gone absent without leave to join the resistance against the Russian invasion, while veterans and Britons without combat experience are thought to have also travelled to Ukraine.

There was initially confusion on the government’s position after then-foreign secretary Liz Truss told the BBC on February 26 that she would “absolutely” support UK nationals who chose to fight for Ukraine.

But she later withdrew from those comments, insisting she had been “expressing support for the Ukrainian cause” and that there were “better ways” to contribute to Ukraine’s defence.

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Habtoor interview
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Naga
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Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: January 2019

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Sector: Technology/Social media 

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Updated: November 10, 2022, 7:23 AM`
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