A former British Army officer honoured by the Queen for his work with the White Helmets civil defence group in Syria has been found dead in Turkey and he is know as Mt Le Mesurier.
Mr Le Mesurier, who was believed to be in his 40s at the time of his death and had also worked for the United Nations, was considered a co-founder of the White Helmets.
The body of James Le Mesurier, who received an OBE in 2016, was discovered on Monday near his home in Istanbul, White Helmet sources told the BBC.
Mr Le Mesurier set up the Mayday Rescue emergency response group, which helped train White Helmets volunteers.
The cause of death is not known. Turkey has launched an investigation.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a director of the Doctors Under Fire campaign group and a friend of Mr Le Mesurier, said: “It’s absolutely tragic. He was one of the few people who have made a humanitarian footprint in Syria.”
Mr de Bretton-Gordon said the White Helmets had a very “strong structure” and their work would continue. But he said Mr Le Mesurier’s death had left a “hole to fill”.
You may be wondering where and when he died, Mr Le Mesurier’s body was found at about 04:30 local time (01:30 GMT) on the street near his home and office in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district on the European side of the city.
Our sources say reports in Turkish media say his body was discovered with fractures to his legs.
The Istanbul governor’s office later said a “comprehensive” investigation had been launched.
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News Credit:BBC
