Cornish family pay tribute to son killed in action | Global News Avenue

A family has paid tribute to their son who was killed in Ukraine, saying a “hole” has been left in their lives.

The family of Callum Tindal-Draper said they were informed by the Fourth International Regiment that the 22-year-old from Cornwall was guarding an observation point with the Foreign Volunteers Platoon on November 5. died in action.

His father, Steven Draper, said the family were proud of their “brave” son, who told them before traveling to Ukraine in June that he knew the risks he would face and the chances of returning home Very small.

The BBC has contacted the Foreign Office for further information.

Foreign Office advice urges people not to travel to Ukraine amid conflict with Russia.

Mr Draper said the family, who live in Ganislake, Cornwall, had tried to persuade their son not to go to Ukraine but they understood it was something he was passionate about because he wanted to help.

“We begged, begged, begged him not to go,” Mr. Draper said.

“But Callum said, ‘Dad, I’m not afraid of bullies, what’s going on in Ukraine is terrible and someone needs to stand up for these people’.”

His mother, Caroline Tindal, said the whole family were “extremely proud” of Mr Tindal-Draper, who previously worked at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and as a community care worker .

In September, she traveled to Ukraine to visit her son and said she noticed he had matured as a person.

“It was a huge transformation and he said to me ‘Mum, coming here is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, I’ve found the person I’m meant to be’,” Ms Tindal said.

“He found the person he was meant to be, he became that person, and he lived that person.”

She added that Tyndall-Draper’s troops told the family through video messages and handwritten letters that they had great respect for him and that he was an inspiration to them in Ukraine.

Ms Tindal said: “When we found him dead there was a hole that I can’t describe and it has been there forever.

“But knowing that they say he inspires them, they call him their brother because he’s the youngest, they’re really a family unit and that’s helping us heal and getting us through this.

“That hole that I thought was irreparable has been filled by the overwhelming love of his family, which means a lot.”

Mr Draper said the hole left by his son’s death was “heartbreaking” but he felt proud to hear the words of his comrades about their families who had filled the void.

He added: “It inspired me to go out and think about what I could do and how I could be courageous and courageous in what I did.

“I have the bravest son as my inspiration, and that’s really powerful.”

Ms Tindal said Mr Tindal-Draper’s body had not yet been returned but the family planned to bury him in Ukraine.

“He wanted to stay in Ukraine, live in Ukraine, so I thought, even if we had a body, we would bury him in Ukraine – that’s where he found his home,” she said.