Kiev, Jul 15 (IANS): A British aid worker, who was captured in Ukraine by Russia-backed separatists, has died, media reports said.

Paul Urey, from Culcheth, Lancashire was detained in eastern Ukraine in April and charged with mercenary activity, BBC reported.

Urey died on Sunday "due to illness and stress", Daria Morozova, self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)official, claimed on Telegram.

"During his first medical examination, Paul Urey was diagnosed with a number of chronic illnesses, including insulin-dependent diabetes, respiratory system failure, kidney failure and several cardiovascular illnesses. Given these diagnoses and the stress, he died on July 10," Morozova said.

The 45-year-old's family were contacted by the UK Foreign Office, says the Presidium Network, a UK non-profit that provides support to communities in crisis to manage humanitarian issues and represent the needs of people.

His mother is "distraught and still in shock", it said.

The UK says it is seeking urgent clarification from Ukraine and the Russian government on reports of a British aid worker's death.