The British founder of the organisation that trained the Syrian rescue group known as the White Helmets has died in Istanbul.

A spokesman for the White Helmets confirmed on Monday afternoon the death of James Le Mesurier, but said further details were yet to be established.

Le Mesurier, 48, was found dead near his apartment in central Istanbul’s Beyoğlu neighbourhood at around 4.30am. Turkish media reports said he was found with fractures to his head and legs near the building on Monday morning and appeared to have fallen from the balcony of one of the apartments.

The office of Istanbul’s governor said it had commenced a “comprehensive” investigation into the death.

Friends said he had been operating for years under significant pressure from the orchestrated attacks on his reputation and the stress of running a high-profile NGO.

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