A BRITISH aid worker lost his arm and leg in a savage Russian drone strike as he rescued Ukrainians trapped along the frontlines.
Heroic volunteer Eddy Scott was seriously injured whilst evacuating innocent civilians from the war-torn city of Pokrovsk.
Brave Eddy was driving a clearly-marked armoured humanitarian truck when it was targeted by an enemy FPV drone on January 30.
He was pulled from the blood-splattered wreckage and rushed to hospital where surgeons amputated his left arm and leg.
Remarkably, Eddy was photographed smiling in his hospital bed and giving the thumbs up with his remaining hand as pals praised his courage.
He tearfully embraced fellow volunteer Filip Goncharov who pulled him free from the busted truck and wept: “You saved me man, you saved me.”
Horrifying pictures and video showed the immediate aftermath of the near-fatal assault.
The armoured truck he was driving was ripped open by the blast with blood spilled across the driver’s seat.
Sailor Eddy, from Shaftesbury, Dorset, took the brunt of the explosion and was rushed to hospital where surgeons battled to save his life.
His team had narrowly survived another attack by Russian forces in December last year as they evacuated three elderly women in Shevchenko.
In an online post from Pokrovsk, Eddy told how they were equipped with a high-tech tracker designed to give a live feed of kamikaze drones operating in the area.
The quad-copters are strapped with explosives by the enemy – and Ukrainian forces – and flown via first person live-feed cameras.
Attacks in frontline cities like Pokrovsk are happening on a daily basis.
Courageous Eddy described the deadly drones as being constantly in the air and the fear of Russian attacks always looming.
He said: “Sometimes we get lucky and the weather is bad. Snow, rain, and fog act as an invisibility cloak, hiding us from prying eyes.
“But even when they can’t see, they still shoot. Most of our evacuees are waiting for us when we arrive.
“They are ready to leave. But some need convincing. The safety of leaving, and the danger of staying. Most decide to leave.
“We pack their belongings into the van. Some bring bags and boxes and jars and burlap sacks and trolleys and… We take everything we can fit.
“Some have only a single bag containing their most important possessions.”
He noted that Pokrovsk is one of the worst hit areas in Ukraine he has visited saying the city has “suffered”.
“Every day fresh debris litter our routes through the city. Blocks of flats destroyed, their last inhabitants evacuated days before,” Eddy said.
“The rolling storm of artillery, and plumes of smoke across the city.”
Base UA, a non-governmental organisation Eddy was working for, said the van was hit directly during the evacuation of two citizens.
The group said Eddy “took the majority of the blow” and was left with crippling injuries.
He is only alive due to the brilliant efforts of his close friend Filip, who gave lifesaving care under extreme pressure to Eddy.
In the end, doctors only had to amputate Eddy’s left leg and arm.
Two of the evacuees also sustained minor shrapnel injuries.
Base UA added: “Russian troops are shelling humanitarian organisations and civilians. We see this in Pokrovsk every day.
“We continue to support Eddy and Filip during this difficult time.”
Most got out with minor injuries but Eddy, who was the driver that day, took the majority of the blow and was seriously injured
Fundraiser for Eddy
Eddy, pictured with his German Shepherd Ice, has repeatedly travelled to Ukraine to help since Russia invaded three years ago.
In December he wrote about feeling settled in Ukraine – adding: “I have responsibilities now, with both the world’s cutest dog and goddaughter, and an obligation to help defend my home.
“Now I’m back at the aforementioned crack home, listening to the windows rattle and planning the next phase of work, a four hour drive from the closest l’ve been to peace in months.”
A GoFundMe page has since been set up and has already raised over £46,000.
A post on the fundraiser read: “During a civilian evacuation from the frontline in Pokrovsk, our team’s armoured vehicle was hit by a FPV drone.
“Most got out with minor injuries but Eddy, who was the driver that day, took the majority of the blow and was seriously injured.
“He consequently had his left arm and leg amputated. He is now in stable condition in an ICU and receiving the critical care he needs.”
It adds: “Eddy has dedicated the last three years of his life to helping others, risking his life countless times, and now it’s our turn to help him.
“Eddy has a long road ahead, and during this time will not have any way of earning any income, so a portion of the money donated will go to his living costs during/after rehabilitation.”
Another post from his friend Nick Laidlaw said: “Eddy let me stay with him near the Eastern front for free during my last trip to Ukraine.
“He gave me and my translator a bed, and hot meals in the evening.
“During the day, I’d be out filming artillery or medical evacuations, and at that time, Eddy was helping to move hospital equipment out of reach of Russian artillery.
“And still, every night he came home and had a hot meal waiting for us after he had worked tirelessly for free the entire day.
“Eddy is one of the most selfless and helpful souls I’ve ever met.
“He’s helped the civilians of Ukraine for years, and now it’s our turn to help him.
“Instead of buying that cup of Starbucks, please consider helping Eddy recover as the victim of a war crime.”
Fellow Brit Harley William continued: “We are raising money, for the best care for Eddy, who risked his life every day to save lives on the frontline.
“He’s a British lad, whose got the biggest heart. He’s now an amputee.”
The attack on Eddy’s humanitarian truck comes exactly a year after fellow Brit aid workers Chris Parry and Andrew Bagshaw were killed on an evacuation run in Soledar, eastern Ukraine.
In a statement issued at the time, Chris’s family said: “His selfless determination in helping the old, young and disadvantaged there has made us and his larger family extremely proud.”
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