Reece Harding Tribute Fund

"Reece headed overseas in May saying he needed “a short break’’, without telling his parents where he was going.

His family initially thought he was in Nepal doing humanitarian work but later learnt he was fighting with the Kurds against ISIS.

Reece’s mum Michele said her son had always been “such a caring person”.

“If someone flew in at 3am from Brisbane Airport, they would ring Reece and he would pick them up. That’s what he did.”

Mr Harding told ABC radio he received a message on Monday telling him to call an overseas number.

A man on the other line said: “I’m sorry mate that Reece is gone ... he’s stepped on a landmine. He’s dead’.’’

“He felt that he wanted to do the right thing and try and stop it in his small way that he could.”

The Lions of Rojava Facebook page says Harding was killed on Saturday.

“It was Saturday the 27th at 10pm when our Australian warrior Reece Harding — nom de guerre Heval Bagok Australi — stepped on a mine and died in combat,” the page read. “Heval Bagok Australi joined the YPG on the 04th of May, not even two months passed and he is now dead. Killed by the cowardly tactics of ISIS.

“He is the second Australian Lion that gave his life so that the people in Rojava can live their lives in peace,” the page said.

“The people of Rojava will hold his name up high for the generations to come. He will stay alive in the minds and hearts of the Kurdish people for all eternity,” the page continued. “May God bless our Lion Reece Harding- nom de guerre Heval Bagok Australi! May God bless his family and the Australian people for their sacrifice!”