Ex-soldier ‘killed in hit and run’ while cycling home to see his son

A former soldier allegedly killed in a Boxing Day hit-and-run was cycling home to see his son, his family have said.

Father-of-one Lee Kervin, 50, had been at a pub with friends and colleagues when he set off for the short journey to his home in Ormskirk, Lancashire, on Thursday evening.

Police were called to the scene following reports of a collision between a pushbike and a vehicle which left the scene.

Lee was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead in the early hours of the following morning.

Two men aged 58 and 29 have since been arrested in connection with the incident, with the younger man suspected of driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

Lee, who served in Northern Ireland and Sierra Leone with the Royal Green Jackets, left the army to look after his son Brad alone.

His sister told the BBC: ‘As a family, we just want people to come forward, to help bring the person responsible to justice, and to give our family peace.”

A family tribute praised Lee as a ‘quick-witted chatty social butterfly’ who ‘would always chat to anyone friendly’ and ‘liked a pint and chat’.

It added: ‘Lee would go out of his way to help anyone he could, always chatting and helping someone out.

‘He stepped up to his responsibilities and loved raising Brad to become the man he is today.

‘Lee had several jobs over the years, ranging from gardening to pub work in the kitchens.

‘He was the handy man of the family, always ready to fix the failed attempts of DIY of his family.

‘Lee had left a huge void within our small tight-knit family, and he will be greatly missed.’

Detectives are ‘still at the early stages of [the] investigation’ and are urging any witnesses or people with CCTV/dashcam footage to come forward.

‘We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw or captured a Kia Sportage being driven in the area between 6.30pm and 7pm,’ a spokesperson for Lancashire Police said.

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