The inquest of an aid worker killed in Ukraine has been opened at Oxford’s coroner’s court.

Christopher Parry, 28, died in Soledar in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine on January 7.

According to reports, the Truro-born software engineer, who lived in Cheltenham, had been working with fellow volunteer Andrew Bagshaw when he died.

They were trying to rescue a woman in the war zone when their car was hit by shelling.

Their bodies were recovered by Russian armed forces and handed over to Ukrainian officials as part of a prisoner of war exchange.

On Tuesday (February 28), Oxford Coroner’s Court heard that a post-mortem had found the cause of Mr Parry’s death to be gunshot wounds to the head and torso.

His body was identified at the John Radcliffe Hospital on February 20 by a forensic odontologist, using dental records.

A full inquest will take place on September 5.

Paying tribute to their son, Mr Parry’s parents Rob and Christine last month described him as an ‘inspiration’.

Mr Parry told the BBC: "No matter what he did in life, he always had this infectious enthusiasm, energy."

He added: "One of his legacies is life - live it, live it to the full."

Mrs Parry said: "I feel it's just a waste, when I think about all the things he's going to miss out on.

"We're never going to see him again.”