--- title: Jed Danahay was an optimist who believed that things should be better description: “He was at his heart an optimist and always believed that things should be better,” said the family of Jed Danahay, a combat medic killed in Ukraine. image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Lighthouse%20on%20the%20beach%20at%20dawn.jpg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [Ukraine](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/ukraine) # Jed Danahay was an optimist who believed that things should be better “He was at his heart an optimist and always believed that things should be better,” so said the family of Jed Danahay. Jed Danahay was an Australian combat medic helping frontline Ukrainian troops in [Ukraine](https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine).  Jed was killed in August 2022 in Izyum in eastern Ukraine by Russian forces while driving a medical vehicle. His family said, "Jed lived his life trying to help other people. In his short time on this Earth Jed did more things than most of us will ever do in a lifetime. “Jed’s comrades in Ukraine described him as the backbone of their unit, a hero and someone who they could all trust their lives too.” Vale optimist Jed Danahay. 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