Grandfather's tribute to soldier

David Godfrey said the family was "devastated"

A Devon man has paid tribute to his "patriotic" grandson, the latest British soldier to die in Iraq.

Rifleman Daniel Lee Coffey,21, was protecting fellow soldiers from an ambush when he was injured on patrol in Basra on Tuesday.

Rifleman Coffey, who was single and from Cullompton, later died of his injuries in hospital, the MoD said.

His grandfather, David Godfrey, says he does not believe British troops should be in Iraq.

I believe that now we should begin to bring the troops home David Godfrey MoD names soldier killed in Iraq

Mr Godfrey, 61, said: "It is a struggle to comprehend what our troops are doing in Iraq at all."

"This government, Tony Blair the Ministry of Defence and everyone else involved need now to listen our people, and I believe that now we should begin to bring the troops home."

The death of the soldier, who was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, has hit his parents Samantha and Nigel "very, very hard", said Mr Godfrey, also from Cullompton.

They are too upset to speak.

"He was a very patriotic lad," said Mr Godfrey, adding that Rifleman Coffey's six brothers and stepbrothers - aged from three to 17 years - were "devastated" by his loss.

Rifleman Coffey came under attack on patrol in Basra

"We are very, very proud of Daniel, he had a wonderful caring heart."

Rifleman Coffey, of 10 Platoon, C Company, Second Battalion The Rifles, was returning to base at the Shatt-Al-Arab Hotel in Basra on Tuesday when his patrol was ambushed by two gunmen.

He came under small arms fire attack as he provided protection for the patrol vehicles and sustained "very serious injuries" from which he later died in hospital, the MoD said.

He was the first soldier of the Rifles to be killed in action, commanding officer of The Second Battalion, The Rifles, Lt Col Justin Maciejewski said.

He added: "The fact that he volunteered to return to Iraq for a second tour of duty only two months after having completed a seven-month tour with his previous regiment - the Devon and Dorset Light Infantry - is a humbling testament to his dedication and his selfless commitment to the service to his country."