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'outstanding bravery'

British hero Ryan Lock who died fighting ISIS in Syria ‘turned gun on himself to avoid being taken prisoner’

Calls for Ryan Lock to be awarded 'outstanding bravery in the face of a barbaric enemy'

A BRIT killed battling ISIS in Syria "turned the gun on himself" amid fears he would be taken prisoner, it has been claimed.

Ryan Lock joined the fight against the jihadi cult after telling his family he was going on holiday.

 Ryan Lock, 20, died on December 21 during an offensive by anti-Islamic State forces to recapture the city of Raqqa
Ryan Lock, 20, died on December 21 during an offensive by anti-Islamic State forces to recapture the city of RaqqaCredit: PA:Press Association

 

 Ryan volunteered with the Kurdish YPG to help drive out ISIS from Syria
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Ryan volunteered with the Kurdish YPG to help drive out ISIS from Syria

Pals of the chef who worked for his dad’s hog roast firm described him as a “real-life James Bond”.

BBC sources revealed that a "trace of a gunshot wound was found under the chin" of the 20-year-old, suggesting suicide.

The YPG source added: "It seems that the British fighter committed suicide in order not to fall captive with ISIS".

Lock, from Chichester in West Sussex, died on December 21 during a battle for the so-called Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa.

He was fighting as part of the Kurdish militia, itself deemed a terror organisation by Turkey, whose forces nearly killed him weeks before his death.

In a tragic final Facebook post telling of the Turkish attack, Lock wrote: “We were taking a small village when we got hit by Turkish jets in the night.

“Two of my friends, Anton and Michael, were killed among many others.”

Despite almost losing his own life, Ryan vowed: “I’m staying to finish out my six months.”
Kurdish rights activist Mark Campbell from KurdishQuestion.com told : "Ryan Lock may very well have turned his own gun upon himself rather than be taken prisoner by ISIS.

"I personally believe he deserves the very highest of military honours for such outstanding bravery in the face of such a barbaric enemy."

 Ryan, pictured after the raid by Turkish jets, was shot in the head while battling to recapture the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa
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Ryan, pictured after the raid by Turkish jets, was shot in the head while battling to recapture the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa
 The 20-year-old pretended he was going on holiday but joined the fight against ISIS instead
The 20-year-old pretended he was going on holiday but joined the fight against ISIS insteadCredit: Social Media
 Sources say Lock 'turned the gun on himself' to avoid being taken prisoner
Sources say Lock 'turned the gun on himself' to avoid being taken prisonerCredit: Social Media

The young chef told his family he was off to Turkey on holiday. They later discovered he had signed up with the YPG.

Ryan’s last catering job before he left the UK in the summer was serving up roasts at a posh Hampshire wedding.

 Ryan Lock helps serve a hog roast at a Hampshire wedding the day before jetting off to war zone
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Ryan Lock helps serve a hog roast at a Hampshire wedding the day before jetting off to war zone
 Ryan was killed on the battlefield during an operation to liberate Raqqa from ISIS
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Ryan was killed on the battlefield during an operation to liberate Raqqa from ISIS
 He pretended to be jetting off on holiday when he flew over to fight ISIS
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He pretended to be jetting off on holiday when he flew over to fight ISIS

Lock's body had been in the hands of IS militants before being transported into Iraq on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old became the third British man to die fighting alongside the Kurds against ISIS.

His dad Jon, 39, who runs the firm called Hog Squad, hailed him as “a caring and loving boy who would do anything to help anyone”.

He added: “He had a heart of gold.”

Ryan was a former pupil at Warblington School, where headmistress Julia Vincent said: “He was well-liked.

“Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.”



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