A 21-year-old Rifleman who died after being injured in a patrol in Iraq was protecting fellow soldiers from an ambush when he was killed, the Ministry of Defence said last night

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

A single man, he had family in Newcastle and Devon.

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

Rifleman Coffey is the 133rd member of the British forces to die in Iraq since hostilities began in March 2003 and the 102nd to be killed in combat.

He was the first soldier of the Rifles to be killed in action, said Commanding Officer of The Second Battalion, The Rifles, Lieutenant Colonel Justin Maciejewski.

"The death of Rifleman Coffey as a result of enemy action on February 27 represents a tragic loss.

"He lost his life protecting his fellow Riflemen in the dangerous environment of Basra City.

"His sense of humour, his skill as a Rifleman and his enthusiasm for soldiering on operations in Iraq were clearly evident to all around him.

"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."

Lt Col Maciejewski added: "In death he is a shining example for all Riflemen."