A 22-year-old former community care worker from Cornwall has been killed fighting for Ukraine, his family have announced.

Callum Tindal-Draper, from Gunnislake, died while defending an observation post on Ukraine’s eastern front line on Nov 5, Caroline Tindal, his mother, said.

He fought until he could no longer hold off the advancing Russians, Ms Tindal said, adding his platoon described him as a “hero” and “as brave as they come”.

Before volunteering in the Ukrainian International Legion, Tindal-Draper worked at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and as a carer in the community.

Tindal-Draper’s family said they had “begged him not to go to Ukraine”, but they were all “so proud” of the person he had become after volunteering with Ukraine forces.

Steven Draper, Callum’s father, said: “We begged and begged and begged him not to go. But Callum said ‘dad, I’m not frightened of bullies and what’s going on in Ukraine is awful and someone needs to stand up for these people’.”