British cabbie dies on Ukraine frontline after saving hundreds as volunteer medic
A British dad has been died while volunteering as a medic in Ukraine.
Peter Fouché was volunteering in the war-torn country helping to save lives of those injured in battle against Russia. His death was announced on Monday by registered charity Project Konstantin on X, formerly Twitter, which South African-born Peter founded and directed.
In a devastating statement, the charity described Peter as "a beacon of hope, a true hero, and a friend to all" with his death like "a true nightmare". Peter's efforts resulted in more than 200 wounded troops being saved.
Peter, understood to be around 49, went to Ukraine in 2022 shortly after Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion. He had been working in the UK as a construction worker at the time, and helped build a hospital before joining Ukraine’s Saint Michael the Archangel battalion.
Peter pictured on the frontline in Ukraine
Peter, from Fulham, London, trained as a sniper and medic with his native South Africa’s police special forces 20 years ago. In an emotional statement on Monday, Project Konstantin said: "There are no words that can do Pete’s life justice. No words or phrases that could ever encapsulate how much he meant to all of us.
"Pete's unwavering dedication, endless compassion, and relentless commitment to Ukraine and her people have left an everlasting impact on the countless lives he touched. His heroism knew no bounds.
"He was actively involved in saving more than 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers, evacuating civilians from the most dangerous frontline cities, as well as bringing humanitarian aid to people in those towns and cities. Pete’s bravery and selflessness in the face of danger were nothing short of extraordinary, and his actions will forever be etched in our hearts."
The charity has not clarified how Peter died or whether his death was caused by the war. They added: "His death feels like the worst nightmare: the kind of nightmare where you wish you could wake up, but then we wake up and realise that it wasn’t just nightmare.
"We will honour Pete's memory by continuing the work he was so passionate about, carrying forward his legacy of courage and kindness, of fighting for what is right, and of speaking up in the face of injustice."
In a cruel twist, Peter, spoke to media in June 2022 saying how daughter Nikola, then aged 13, had told him: “Go, Daddy, but make sure you come back.” He said he felt compelled to travel to Kyiv and help after seeing the news of Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022.
“Children were being murdered,” he said. “It struck a powerful chord with me as a father.” He added: “I love my child so much and I don’t want anyone in the world to go through the pain of losing theirs.”