Heartbroken Louise Lathbury is still waiting to bring her fiancé's body home from Ukraine after thousands were raised for his repatriation.
Former soldier Jay Thorn, from Wark near Hexham, had been working in the war torn country to train soldiers when he was killed in a car crash, on May 21
The 36-year-old had been due to marry his partner Louise Lathbury.
After being told it could cost more than £15,000 to bring Jay home Louise set about raising funds for his repatriation.
More than £18,000 has now been donated to the GoFundMe page she set up.
And now as she waits to discover when she can bring her beloved partner home, Louise has thanked all those that have helped.
She said: "It's been incredible, the support that we have had is overwhelming.
"There have been more than 300 donations. I really do appreciate it. I can't express how much it means. I'm just really grateful.
Jay, who had been a fusilier for eight years, travelled to Ukraine to do humanitarian work after the war started, in February 2022.
Louise said he then found work helping to train the Ukrainian soldiers desperately trying to defend their homeland from Russia's invasion.
The Foreign Office has confirmed that Jay's death is not thought to be connected to the ongoing war. And the office is now supporting Louise.
"At the moment we still can't do anything as I have to wait for all the legalities," she explained. "The Foreign Office have been brilliant, they phone me every day."
Last week Louise paid tribute to Jay.
"Jay grew up in Hexham and had lots of friends. He loved Hadrian's Wall," she said.
"He was hard on the outside and soft on the inside. He had that exterior of being tough and he was tough but he a big softy inside.
"He just wanted to do some good."
Louise says any additional funds raised by the page will be donated to an animal charity or to help with another repatriation.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: “We are providing support to the family of a British man following his death in Ukraine, and are in touch with the local authorities.”
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