The body of an ex-Royal Marine who was the first Briton to be killed while fighting against ISIS has been returned to his family in a 'comforting ' ceremony attended by hundreds of Syrian Kurds . Konstandinos Erik Scurfield , from Barnsley , was shot dead on March 2 while fighting in Syria alongside Kurdish forces in the frontline village of Tel Khuzela . The 25-year-old 's body was given to his father and uncle in a ceremony on the Syria-Iraq border involving hundreds of Syrian Kurds flying their brightly coloured flags . Scroll down for video . Respect : Hundreds of Syrian Kurds attended a ceremony , during which they handed over Konstandinos Erik Scurfield 's body to his grieving father and uncle , who had travelled to the region . Killed : Mr Scurfield , from Barnsley , was shot dead on March 2 while fighting in Syria alongside the Kurds . The coffin - which has a picture of Mr Scurfield attached , and was draped in both the Kurdish and Union flags - is accompanied by a guard of honour , comprised of both male and female soldiers . At one point , a woman dressed in a headscarf pulls Mr Scurfield 's devastated father Chris close to him , to kiss him on the head . The gathered crowd then watched as the coffin was loaded onto an ambulance to be taken to Erbil , the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan . Chris later told the BBC the ceremony was 'overwhelming ' and 'very special and very comforting ' to his family . The Foreign Office refused to comment on when his body might be repatriated . Mr Scurfield , who was an expert in battlefield medicine , is believed to have travelled to Syria three or four months ago hoping to provide medical and humanitarian support . Tribute : Mr Scurfield 's coffin was carried out by Kurdish fighters , who had gathered to pay their respects . Honour : The coffin , which was draped in both the Union and Kurdish flags , was then taken to Erbil . He was said to have been 'horrified by the atrocities being carried out by ISIS ' . His family , including archaeologist parents Chris and Vicci and his student sister Georgianna , said they were heartbroken but proud of him . In a statement following his death they said : 'His flame might have burned briefly but it burned brightly with love , courage , conviction and honour and we are very proud of him . ' While high numbers of foreigners are known to have joined IS , around 100 Westerners - including several Britons - are thought to have travelled to fight alongside the Kurds . Last month , a 19-year-old serving British soldier was returned to his unit after joining the Kurdish peshmerga .
Konstandinos Erik Scurfield 's father and uncle have collected his body . The family has been told that the remains will be cremated in a private ceremony on Friday at St Paul's Church in Sydney.