11/11/19
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. In a tweet, the White Helmets said the group had "learned with shock and sadness the news" of the death of Mr Le Mesurier. 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".
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. He was found with fractures to his head and legs, Turkish media say, and is believed to have fallen from his balcony. A "comprehensive" investigation has been launched, the Istanbul governor's office says. In 2016, the organisation received the Right Livelihood Award in recognition for "outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians". Later the same year the group was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. But the Syrian government and its allies Russia and Iran have accused the White Helmets of openly aiding terrorist organisations and the Russian foreign ministry last week accused Mr Le Mesurier of being a former agent of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI6.
