Family says Edmonton paramedic killed while fighting in Ukraine
CBC
An Edmonton man who volunteered to fight in the war in Ukraine has died, his family tells CBC News.
It's believed Josh Mayers, 34, was killed on Nov. 10 near Bakhmut, a city in the country's east.
His wife, Cathryn Unverricht, said a member of Mayers' team told her that he was digging a trench when he was killed in a drone strike.
Fighting is ongoing near Bakhmut, and Unverricht said Mayers' body has yet to be retrieved. She said a member of his team provided the family with visual confirmation.
Global Affairs Canada tells CBC News that it is aware of an incident involving a Canadian in Ukraine but could not provide further details due to privacy concerns. It has not confirmed Mayers' death.
The department said it is aware of nine Canadians who have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion in 2022.
Unverricht describes Mayers as someone with a really big heart.
"Whenever anything happened or whenever anyone was upset, he was always the first one there, making everything better, offering solutions and just doing anything he could to help," she said.
The pair were together for eight years and had been married for only 14 months.
Mayers worked as a paramedic with Alberta Health Services (AHS) for nearly 10 years and as a primary care paramedic in rural Alberta before then.
Mother Janet Penner said Mayers' focus was on others.
"I know he had considered emergency medicine. He was all about caring for people. That was always Josh," she said.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and our condolences go out to their family and friends during this difficult time," reads a statement from AHS to CBC News.
"We have offered supports and resources to those at AHS who are impacted by this loss."
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