![Holding out for a hero](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1721880372/articles/QuQCLxfrK1721886336841/HOLDING-OUT-FOR-A-HERO.jpg)
Chris Parry was a lad from Cornwall who loved adventure and had a taste for danger. When war broke out in Ukraine in February 2022, he was gripped by a sort of obsessive compassion. It compelled him to go and help the people terrorised and made homeless by Putin’s army. In due course this cost him his life, at the age of 28, in the “grey zone” of eastern Ukraine, a desolate no-man’s land.
We’ve heard too little about the British and other foreign nationals who volunteer as humanitarian workers in Ukraine, and Hell Jumper on BBC Two and iPlayer, which tells the story of Chris’s all-too-brief life, explains something of their experiences, their motivations, their bravery and the service they gave their fellow human beings. No one made Chris or the other “hell jumpers” drive into this war – and it’s about time we honoured them.
By all accounts, the young Chris was a sociable, intelligent and sporty type with a restless zest for life – swimming, go-karting and tree-climbing almost from the womb. He would almost certainly have made a fine soldier, though he’d never been near a gun and he never carries one when we see him careering around Ukraine trying to rescue people who’d been left behind as the Russians advanced. Typically they are too old, frail or stubborn to leave their unlit, unheated basements in bombed-out apartment blocks. We learn how, in all, Chris personally gets about 400 individuals out, and we may be sure that few would have survived for long under occupation.
This story is from the July 25, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 25, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Draper hit by sickness in semi-final defeat to Sinner](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/gia7Azxul1725689493594/DRAPER-HIT-BY-SICKNESS-IN-SEMIFINAL-DEFEAT-TO-SINNER.jpg)
Draper hit by sickness in semi-final defeat to Sinner
Jack Draper was sick on court four times as his US Open dream ended in semi-final heartbreak following a straight-sets defeat to Jannik Sinner. The British number one was enjoying an incredible run in New York and had big hopes of emulating Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu by winning the title.
![San Marino's competitive.cherry popped by a toe poke](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/AuwCjgHDM1725689406752/SAN-MARINOS-COMPETITIVECHERRY-POPPED-BY-A-TOE-POKE.jpg)
San Marino's competitive.cherry popped by a toe poke
It goes some way to illustrating the pain and patience that fans of San Marino have had to endure that their winning goalscorer on Thursday night wasn’t even born the last time the landlocked nation tasted international success.
![Carsley's gamble leads to an audition with a difference](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/4bi9DIC551725689247053/CARSLEYS-GAMBLE-LEADS-TO-AN-AUDITION-WITH-A-DIFFERENCE.jpg)
Carsley's gamble leads to an audition with a difference
One of the game's brightest coaches has the chance to show he's more than a 'safe pair of hands', writes Miguel Delaney
![Warring neighbours have became eternally entwined](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/Z7sqrtllE1725689095167/WARRING-NEIGHBOURS-HAVE-BECAME-ETERNALLY-ENTWINED.jpg)
Warring neighbours have became eternally entwined
England meet the Republic of Ireland today, reigniting a rivalry that has shades of grey between the white and green
![Boeing Starliner heads back to Earth without its crew](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/uZRqa_yA81725688980405/BOEING-STARLINER-HEADS-BACK-TO-EARTH-WITHOUT-ITS-CREW.jpg)
Boeing Starliner heads back to Earth without its crew
Boeing's troubled Starliner space craft undocked from the International Space Station yesterday - without its crew - and began a high-risk return to Earth. The Starliner undocked shortly after 2300 GMT and is scheduled to touch down six hours later in White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico.
![Rape and death threats for Afghan taekwondo star](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/77vQ2mDJM1725688890255/RAPE-AND-DEATH-THREATS-FOR-AFGHAN-TAEKWONDO-STAR.jpg)
Rape and death threats for Afghan taekwondo star
Online abuse of Marzieh Hamidi for criticising the Taliban hit new levels after she denounced her country's cricket team
![Super Typhoon Yagi makes landfall in 'China's Hawaii'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/FE20-3ssS1725688816714/SUPER-TYPHOON-YAGI-MAKES-LANDFALL-IN-CHINAS-HAWAII.jpg)
Super Typhoon Yagi makes landfall in 'China's Hawaii'
Super Typhoon Yagi landed in China’s Hainan yesterday, bringing violent gales and heavy rain that triggered widespread power outages, paralysing the tourist island province known as “China’s Hawaii”.
!['I did it': suspect admits to Georgia school shooting](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/VpX9Wc1iD1725688758097/I-DID-IT-SUSPECT-ADMITS-TO-GEORGIA-SCHOOL-SHOOTING.jpg)
'I did it': suspect admits to Georgia school shooting
The suspect accused of killing four people in a mass school shooting in the US, allegedly told investigators \"I did it\" while being questioned. Colt Gray, 14, who has been charged with four felony counts of murder, made the admission while being read his Miranda rights, Barrow County sheriff, Jud Smith, told CNN.
![Inside a city under fire as Russia advances in Donetsk](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/QSSkJj3ih1725688655929/INSIDE-A-CITY-UNDER-FIRE-AS-RUSSIA-ADVANCES-IN-DONETSK.jpg)
Inside a city under fire as Russia advances in Donetsk
Residents of Kostyantynivka, perilously close to the front line, tell of the relentless shelling they are facing as Putin's merciless forces tighten their grip on the Ukrainian region
![England head coach will not sing national anthem today](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/qlB3idcvI1725688557409/ENGLAND-HEAD-COACH-WILL-NOT-SING-NATIONAL-ANTHEM-TODAY.jpg)
England head coach will not sing national anthem today
England manager and former Ireland player Lee Carsley says won't sing either anthem for today's match in Dublin, because that's always been his stance throughout his career.