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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kelly-Ann Mills

Brit, 22, missing in Ukraine 'told friends he was OK' before he was captured by Russians

A 22-year-old British aid volunteer was is missing, believed captured in Ukraine had "told friends he was OK".

Dylan Healy was reportedly kidnapped by Russian forces in south Ukraine on Monday.

He went to sixth-form college with friend Sophie Goldring, who says she had been keeping in touch with him over Snapchat.

Sophie said: "He sent me a Snapchat of him driving. He said he was ok.

"Apart from that haven't heard from him which has now worried me.

"He wanted to [to Ukraine] to help. He wanted to do it."

A view of damaged area as citizens return to Irpin, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Another friend, Allan Moore, 29, said that Dylan was "just a kid from a council estate who went out there to help".

Allan, who played football with Dylan, said he'd been told that his pal was trying to save a young family from south Ukraine when he was captured by Russian troops.

He said that he doesn't know where Dylan is now or his condition.

The area is devastated (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Allan said: "It doesn't surprise me he went out there [to Ukraine] but I'm shocked at the situation now.

"When I heard about this I was like 'that's not real'.

"He was a 22-year-old kid from a council estate who went out there to help.

"Dylan could be quite arrogant at times but he had a good heart and was willing to help people.

Residents assess the damage (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

"He was studying to be a paramedic at one point I think. A while back he tried to get into the Army but couldn't on medical grounds."

Neighbours at Dylan's former home in Huntingdon, Cambs, said Dylan had worked odd jobs while in the area.

His Facebook page states that he works as a 3.5-tonne van driver and he is also known to have worked at a local hotel.

Dylan posted an update to friends on Facebook on March 15 saying that he was driving to Ukraine and had arrived in Poland.

His post received 25 comments from friends wishing him well and encouraging him to keep safe.

One friend wrote: "Thinking of you and praying for safety x."

Another said: "Bless you Dyls. Stay safe and be wise x."

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