Retired British firefighter heads to Ukraine 'to see if he can help locals'
Watch: Retired UK firefighter flies out to help in Ukraine
A retired British firefighter is on his way to Ukraine to help during the Russian invasion.
Bruce Reid, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, who is in his 50s, has made his way as far as Poland.
He said he does not plan to fight in the war but wants to offer his services as a firefighter.
He spent Sunday night in the foyer of a hotel in Korczowa, Poland, and plans to make his way into Ukraine later.
He made the trip after making an inquiry to the Ukrainian Embassy in the UK.
He told Sky News from Poland on Monday: “I think everybody would think, ‘Is there something I can do?’
“I went through the same thought process. I’m recently retired from the fire service.
“So perhaps I could put that to some use, if it would do some good.
“I made some inquiries to the Ukrainian embassy, to see if they would need my services as a recently retired firefighter. That’s the only reason why I’ve come here.”
Read more: Russia 'bombing TV towers' to cut Ukrainians off from internet and vital broadcasts
Reid, who has 30 years of experience as a firefighter, said he does not want to participate in the fighting.
“I don’t want to have a crash course in the use of an AK47,” he said.
“But if I can get to a fire station in Ukraine and help them then I might be doing my bit.”
Asked when he plans to return home, Reid said: “I don’t know. I will play it by ear.
“As long as I feel that I’m doing some good and I can stay, I’ll stay.”
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Reid, who retired two years ago and was awarded an MBE for his services in 2015, wrote: “I didn't think I'd be donning full fire kit again anytime soon but I'm now able to go to Ukraine to allow an Ukrainian firefighter to possibly take up arms and fight.”
He later said he had been charged an extra £60 by budget airline Ryanair to travel with his firefighting kit from Leeds Bradford airport to Krakow.
Yahoo News UK has approached Ryanair for comment.
Watch: Thousands journey through western Ukraine to escape Russian forces
