The body of a British man killed fighting ISIS returned home to a hero’s welcome after Kurdish commanders praised his part battling the ‘fascist organisation’.
Dozens waved flags and held posters for Luke Rutter from Birkenhead, Merseyside, as they lined the streets outside Manchester Airport.
The 22-year-old died fighting in Syrian ISIS stronghold in July after joining the Kurdish People’s Protection Units – also called the YPG – in March.
Luke Rutter, 22, from Birkenhead, was ambushed and killed by Islamic State fighters in Syria
Kurdish families in the North West showed their gratitude to Mr Rutter with chants, flags and photos of him pinned to their clothing.
His body was driven past the parade in a black funeral services van after he was killed alongside Robert Grodt, 27, from California, and Nicholas Warden, 29, from New York, in Raqqa.
The van slowed, allowing supporters to lay flowers on its bonnet and roof.
Admirers lined the streets in Manchester to thank Mr Rutter for his sacrifice to Kurdish people
Chris Scurfield whose son, Konstandinos, was the first Brit to die fighting ISIS said: ‘As a British person I’m so proud that other people have stood up to ISIS and gone out to fight and I applaud him.
‘I’m so sorry for his family because the shock must’ve been unbearable but I hope in time that they will come to understand his sacrifice for the Kurdish people.’
After he was killed by the ISIS ambush, Mr Rutter’s Kurdish commanders announced his death with a statement praising his bravery.
It described him as a ‘martyr’ who ‘participated actively in the collective life, which is promoted within the YPG’.
Mr Rutter recorded a final message for his family, which was released by the YPG after he was killed fighting ISIS in their stronghold of Raqqa
It added: ‘At the end of training in the academy, when asked the usual question addressed to every volunteer: “Are you ready to fight?” He firmly responded “Yes” and said he wanted to fight the fascist organisation of IS.’
He had travelled to Syria in secret, telling his mother Caroline he was going to join the French Foreign Legion.
The first she heard about him going to the country was when a YPG fighter informed her of his death.
Crowds swarmed around the car carrying Mr Rutter’s body and chanted their appreciation for him near Manchester Airport
Mr Rutter explained his decision to go and fight in a video released after his death by the YPG.
‘I lied to people I care about in order to come here, I said I was going somewhere else.
‘I apologise massively for that. Apart from that I don’t regret my decision, and I hope you respect it.’
The fourth Briton to die fighting ISIS with the YPG was described as a humble and brave fighter
He was described by one comrade on Facebook as ‘One of the greatest and most humble guys I’ve ever met! Thanks for the lessons.’
Mr Rutter is the fourth Briton to die fighting for the YPG.
Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, 25, a former Marine from Barnsley, became the first when he was shot in the Syrian village of Tel Khuzela in 2015.
Dean Evans, 22, from Warminster, died in Manbij, Syria, in July 2016 before Ryan Lock, 22, from Chichester, killed himself as he was about to be captured by ISIS in Raqqa in December last year.