A former Wisbech Grammar School pupil is one of nine British medical students that fled to hospitals controlled by Islamic State in Syria to help wounded people.

The students, five men and four women, reportedly flew to Istanbul from Sudan earlier this month.

Lena Abdel-Gadir had been studying medicine at the University of Medical Sciences and Technology, a medical-orientated college in Khartoum, the capital of the Republic of Sudan.

Headmaster Chris Staley described her as “bright, dynamic and academically-focused”. She also held various responsibilities and participated in school activities.

“Lena was very involved with the school,” he said. “She enjoyed being part of the Student Voice, the Student Council, and participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Award and sports; she was very much an ordinary girl at school.

“She had a passion for the sciences, and medicine, and went to university in the Sudan to start her medical career straight after her GCSEs. Everyone is surprised by the news that Lena could be in Syria. She was a very well-liked pupil and we hope she comes back to the safety of her home and family.”

The 19-year-old, of Leziate near King’s Lynn, is the daughter of a surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Miss Abdel-Gadir wanted to “volunteer to help wounded Syrians” and sent a smiling selfie to her sister before crossing the border.

On social media, she shares reports of apparent attacks on Muslims and her thoughts on life. In January, she retweeted: “The pictures that the 2 journalists produced on Islam and prophet Muhammed (saw) was more horrific than their killing.”