Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has confirmed that a young British soldier who left his base to join Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State (ISIS) has been found and is being returned to his unit.

The soldier, believed to be 19 years old, recently told his family he was joining the peshmerga in Syria and Iraq because ‘these guys need our help.’

He said in a text message to his family:

I’ve gone to join the Kurds in Syria and Iraq. I’m with other British people and a Canadian at the moment. I don’t know how to explain it to you but I really want and need to do this and I will be safe.

An additional text said:

I have good skills and I can speak the language I can help these people and help with this fight.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the story, but stated that the MoD cannot comment further at this time.