Captured Brit aid worker Paul Urey dies after being taken hostage by pro-Putin separatists who blame ‘stress’

A CAPTURED British aid worker has died after being held hostage in Ukraine as pro-Putin separatists blame his death on “stress”. Paul Urey, 45, was detained in the city of Zaporizhzhia in April after he was accused of being a spy. Paul Urey has reportedly died while being held hostage He was reportedly charged with “mercenary activities” by officials in the Donetsk People’s Republic’s in eastern Ukraine before his death. DPR spokeswoman Daria Morozova claimed the Brit died “due to illness and stress”. She said: “Given the diagnoses and stress, on July 10 he passed away.  “On our part, despite the severity of the alleged crime, Paul Urey was provided with appropriate medical assistance.” Read more on the Ukraine war CRUEL KILLING Putin fires missiles from 'Russian sub' as Zelensky slams 'terrorist' state DEATH FROM ABOVE Horror moment Russian missile hits apartment block in Ukraine killing 15 According to the non-profit organisation Presidium Network, Paul was captured alongside another British aid worker, Dylan Healy. The two men were on a rescue mission to save a woman and two children in Dniprorudne. Dominik Byrne, the co-founder and chief operating officer of the charity, said the men were working independently as humanitarian aid volunteers. He said the family were later interrogated by Russian forces, who asked them about the British spies. Most read in News TRUMP TRAGEDY Donald Trump's first wife Ivana dies at 73, family confirms LAST MOMENTS Inside Ivana Trump's heartbreaking final hours before being found dead HOLIDAY HELL Brit, 34, killed on honeymoon after 'ignoring red warning flag' to go swimming BLESS MY SOLES I cheated death thanks to my £40 PrettyLittleThing boots after Tube fall KIDNAP ATTEMPT Couple tried to snatch girl, 3, from garden before cops raced to the scene SAFE & SOUND Missing girls, 6 & 9, who vanished from home found after cops' urgent appeal Paul’s mum Linda Urey previously said in a statement: “My family and I are extremely worried. “We know my son Paul and his friend who was humanitarian aid volunteer in Ukraine has been captured by the Russians. “He was out there on his own accord. We want everyone’s support to bring son home and pray he is safe. “My son Paul Urey is also Type 1 Diabetic and needs his Insulin. “We have asked the Presidium Network to help us and also the FCDO to help as well.  We pray for him and hope he is safe.” Paul was described as a “family man with children” who decided to work in the humanitarian sector and travelled a lot. He also worked for eight years in Afghanistan as a “civilian contractor working on back-office support”. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY… The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.