A British man has been killed in action while fighting in Ukraine, just days before he was due to receive a bravery award. Ayrton Redfearn, 23, from south Devon, died in the Donetsk region on May 9 after joining a specialist unit supporting the Ukrainian army in 2025, his mother confirmed.
Family's Heartbreak
His mother, who asked to be known as Natasha, said she was "deeply heartbroken to share the news that my beautiful, strong and incredibly brave son was killed." She added that she had "lived in fear of the police coming to my door with bad news" and that "this fear became reality on the evening of 11 May and the world of myself, and Ayrton's 10-year-old brother, then fell apart."
Natasha expressed gratitude for the tributes and support, saying: "We are trying to have just 1% of the strength, bravery and courage of Ayrton, and if we can do this, it will help us to eventually come to terms with our life without him." She noted that her son had been due to receive a bravery award days after his death.
Background and Tributes
Redfearn was a former pupil at Churston Ferrers Grammar School and joined Torquay Air Cadets at age 12. At 17, he enlisted in the RAF before travelling overseas. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Ukraine, and are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities."
Dr Ben King, his tutor for five years, described him as "highly intelligent" and a "lovely lad" who "everyone admired." He recalled that "within the first couple of weeks he was voted in by his peers as the house representative, which says a lot. So he made a great impression straight away." King added that the news left the school "really shocked."
One of his former instructors at RAF Honington posted: "I was one of Ayrton's instructors when he went through basic training at RAF Honington, he was a really good lad and very funny. To his family I'm very sorry for your loss. I would very much like to pay my respects at his funeral along with many of his other instructors if at all possible. RIP Ayrton."
The FCDO advises against all travel to large parts of Ukraine, including Donetsk.
