Mick Charles O’Neill, 47, died this week after going to Ukraine to help fight Vladimir Putin’s forces. Credit: Facebook
An Australian man who died this week amid fighting in Ukraine has been remembered as “a larrikin [and] always a fighter ”.
Michael Charles O’Neill, a 47-year-old father of three who lived in Hobart, died Wednesday while providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine after the Russian invasion.
“Always looking for a cause, he went to Ukraine to drive trucks helping citizens flee the country,” his sister said online.
“Then he helped drive the injured and injured from the front line, unfortunately he found a sad ending.”
He said O’Neill was driving trucks for the mining industry before going to Ukraine.
O’Neill’s mother said he was killed when the Ukrainian army received heavy fire in a war zone.
“Our family is in mourning and has left a huge void in our lives,” he said online.
“He left two daughters and a son, so part of him is still with us. During his time [in Ukraine]the commander of the Ukrainian army awarded him a mention for his bravery, so he obviously made his presence felt … Always loved and missed. “
In a death notice at Hobart Mercury on Saturday, the family wrote, “We’re all very proud of you, you’ve done it your way.”