The body of a former chef killed fighting against Isis is expected to be repatriated to Britain after being recovered by his Kurdish comrades.

Ryan Lock, 20, is said to have died during an offensive by anti-Isis forces in a bid to retake the northern city of Raqqa, considered to be the terrorist group’s capital, in December.

According to the BBC, Kurdish sources said Mr Lock shot himself to avoid being taken prisoner by Isis and used as a propaganda tool.

Mr Lock’s body is said to have arrived in Kurd-controlled territory on Tuesday and was received during a military ceremony by pro-Kurdish fighters.

Photos of the ceremony showed a coffin displaying a photograph of Mr Lock and a Union flag surrounded by armed militia.

Mark Campbell, a Kurdish rights campaigner, said on Facebook: “UK YPG volunteer Ryan Lock’s body passed over the border of Rojava to KRG (Kurdish Regional Government) region with military honours today [Tuesday] to begin his journey home to his family and friends for burial in the UK.

“Our thoughts today are very much with his mother, father and whole family at this difficult time and very much hope that the repatriation process in Erbil will be speedy so the family can have Ryan home, as soon as possible, for burial.”

Mr Lock, from Chichester, West Sussex, who had no previous military experience and went to school in Havant, Hampshire, had joined the People’s Protection Units, known as the YPG.

In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Isis' weapons factories In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A mortar round fin manufactured by Isis in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis rocket components discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, Iraq in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortars discovered near Karamlais, Iraq, in November 2016 CAR In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis rocket launch frame in Qaraqosh, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A memo from Isis' COSQC on quality control at a manufacturing facility in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Electrically-operated initiators manufactured by Isis in forces Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortar tubes at a manufacturing facility in Karamlais, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis mortar production facility discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis weapons manufacturing facilities near Mosul in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Stocks of French-manufactured Sorbitol, Latvian potassium nitrate and Lebanese sugar at an Isis weapons factory in Iraq Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A destroyed Isis weapons facility in Qaraqosh, Iraq, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research

He reportedly told his family he was going on holiday to Turkey when he left Britain in August.

A statement posted by Mr Campbell from Jon Lock, Mr Lock’s father, said the family was “grateful to the YPG for bringing him home”.

“On behalf of the family, since we heard the devastating news of Ryan, it’s been pretty tough, especially the difficulties surrounding the repatriation,” he said.

Sources told the BBC that an examination showed that “it seems that the British fighter committed suicide in order not to fall captive with Isis”.

A report said the gunshot wound indicated “that the gun made contact with the bottom of the chin”.

Using Mr Lock’s nom de guerre, YPG general command member Mihyedin Xirki said: “We bless the resistance of British martyr Berxwedan Givara for the families of all martyrs and the British people. Our martyr fell putting up a brave fight.