THE father of fallen Royal Marine Georgie Sparks has said his son might still be alive if more Chinook helicopters had been deployed to Afghanistan.

Wayne, from Theydon Mount, Epping is preparing for his son's inquest this Friday.

He said he will bring up the fact that Georgie, who died aged 19 last December, had to wait 50 minutes for a helicopter to reach him.

He added: “He probably bled to death in that time.”

A national newspaper revealed this week that families have been given rides in Chinook helicopters at an RAF airfield in Britain, despite there being a huge shortage in Afghanistan.

Only ten of Britain's 40 Chinooks are deployed in war zones.

Mr Sparks said: “I don't know if things would be different if there had been more Chinooks. All I know is they took 50 minutes to get to Georgie and I don't find that acceptable. It should have taken ten to 15.

"I don't understand why they are being used for fun when there aren't enough in Afghanistan. The onus is on the government. They put the troops out there, they have the best force in the world but they are being let down by the government.

"I'm going to bring it up at the inquest. I don't expect anything to come out of it, but I will bring it up.”