A GRIEVING Ipswich relative of a soldier who died in Afghanistan has today called for a public inquiry.Peter Copple, 73, of Kingsley Close, Whitton, said he has been informed it is likely his great nephew, Lance-Corporal George Davey, died in a freak accident while cleaning his rifle.

A GRIEVING Ipswich relative of a soldier who died in Afghanistan has today called for a public inquiry.

Peter Copple, 73, of Kingsley Close, Whitton, said he has been informed it is likely his great nephew, Lance-Corporal George Davey, died in a freak accident while cleaning his rifle.

Mr Davey, 23, of Beccles, is believed to have been found with a gunshot wound to his stomach at his barracks in Sangin, Helmand province, on Sunday.

Mr Copple, himself a former member of the military police, said: “Nobody in their right mind would try to clean a loaded gun and he wouldn't have committed suicide because he had too much going for him.

“He loved the army and had a lovely young wife and two little children.”

Military police have been brought in by the Royal Anglian Regiment to investigate the death.

Mr Davey's body is due to be flown to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire tomorrow.

An inquest is likely to be carried out by the Wiltshire coroner and Mr Davey's body will be returned to Beccles where he will be given a military funeral at the church in which he married his widow Joanna.

Mr Copple said he is determined to find out exactly how Mr Davey, a man he describes as “one of the nicest lads you could meet”, came to his death.

He said: “There should be an inquiry.”

Mr Copple said he was devastated when he heard the news of his great nephew's death and is struggling to come to terms with the loss.

He said: “He was kind-hearted and a really good lad.

“I'm absolutely gutted.

“I knew him since he was a small boy and he was a lovely lad.”

An Army spokesman said: “Lance-Corporal Davey died as a result of a tragic accident.

“The circumstances of the accident are the subject of an investigation and so no further details into the accident or the investigation will be released until the investigation is completed.

“We can confirm this was not as a result of enemy action.”

n. Do you have a tribute for Lance-Corporal Davey? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk