Who was Peter Fouche, the British medic who died after saving 200 lives in Ukraine war?

Peter Fouche, a British combat medic, who saved hundreds of lives on the Ukrainian front lines has tragically died like a “hero in the battlefield”.

Peter Fouche passed away last week after being badly injured “in combat against Russian forces”, Halyna Zhuk, the commercial director and co-founder of Project Konstantin, a charity organisation founded by the volunteer British medic, said in a video message.

Project Konstantin, which runs rescue operations and gives aid to the Ukrainian soldiers, described the 49-year-old Fouche’s killing as, “the kind of nightmare where you wish you could wake up”.

“There are no words that can do Pete’s life justice. No words or phrases that could ever encapsulate how much he meant to all of us,” said its statement posted on social media.

According to the charity organisation, Peter whose “heroism knew no bounds” has left an “everlasting impact on the countless lives he touched”. We take a look at his journey

_’_Once a cop always a cop’

Born and raised in South Africa’s  Bluewater Bay, the 49-year-old Peter Fouche served as a sniper in the country’s ‘Flying Squad’ - an elite branch of the police service tasked with rapid response to major violent crimes such as homicides, armed robberies, and hijackings.

Later, the father of a 15-year-old girl moved to Fulham in West London and obtained British citizenship. He initially worked in construction and later as a driver for the cab and courier service Addison Lee.

Desperate to put his Flying Squad experience to good use, Fouche headed to Ukraine in March 2022 following the Russian invasion in the previous month.

Explaining what compelled him to move to Ukraine and volunteer to fight and serve for Ukrainians, Fouche told _Metro, “_They say once a cop always a cop”.

“When I saw the images of innocent Ukrainians being mown down as the full-scale invasion began it pushed my police trigger button,” he added.

Upon arriving in Ukraine, Fouche initially joined a territorial defense unit to fight for Kyiv as the war unfolded. However, drawing on his Flying Squad expertise in high-speed car control and rapid response, he quickly recognised that his true calling lay in medevacs.

This epiphany gave birth to Project Konstantin, where he leveraged his unique skills to save hundreds of lives on the front lines.

Project Konstantin

Joining hands with fellow combat medic Tetyana Millard, who was also involved in providing humanitarian aid to frontline towns and evacuating wounded soldiers, Fouche founded the charity organisation Project Konstantin.

The charity was named as a tribute to Konstantin, a Ukrainian serviceman who had fought alongside Fouche and was killed by Russian mortar fire.

In 2023, Fouché was operating near the besieged city of Bakhmut, where he was involved in providing medical assistance to Ukrainian soldiers just 800 metres from the frontline.

Recounting his experiences with Metro late last year, Fouche said, “We are embedded with the Ukrainian army and we live in a bunker 800 metres from the zero line.”

“Whenever they get an injured soldier they call on us and they patch him as best they can before we rush forward and snatch him. We bring him from his beautiful but hellish post to road ambulances that wait for us in a secret location.”

Sadly, last year, his cofounder Millard died in a horrific car crash while driving a donated vehicle to a frontline position in Ukraine. Despite this tragedy, Project Konstantin continued its mission. The charity, which became registered last year, reported that Peter’s medevacs saved more than 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

“He was actively involved in saving more than 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers, evacuating civilians from the most dangerous frontline cities, as well as bringing humanitarian aid to people in those towns and cities. Pete’s bravery and selflessness in the face of danger were nothing short of extraordinary, and his actions will forever be etched in our hearts,” the statement said.

Beyond medevacs of wounded soldiers, the members of Project Konstantin are responsible for delivering essential supplies such as vehicles, drones, uniforms, food, and more to soldiers on the front lines.

Project Konstantin paid tribute to him saying, “Pete was more than a leader; he was a beacon of hope, a true hero, and a friend to all. His wisdom, compassion, and faith in God inspired us every day.”

Tributes pour in

Following Fouche’s demise, an overwhelming amount of support and tribute poured in on the charity’s social media post.

“I am deeply sorry for your loss. He was a great and honorable man! We all need to continue to support Ukraine,” one user wrote.

While another wrote, “Peter had a calling to do what he did. His empathy, compassion and commitment to the cause should never be forgotten.”

The British Foreign Office spokesperson said, “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities.”

With input from agencies