A solider desperate to see his family again died in a freak road crash hours after his wife sent him a new snapshot of their 18-month old twins.

Gokhan Dal, a 28-year-old sergeant in Turkey's 6th Border Brigade, was killed when his military vehicle overturned while he was on duty in Van province on 7th May.

Just hours earlier he had asked his wife to send him a picture of the toddlers Neva Ada and Ayaz Bugra to lift his spirits during the remote posting.

Picture shows the children, undated. Gokhan Dal lost his life when a military vehicle overturned and was laid to rest in Aksaray, Turkey. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)

His cousin Murat Sert said: "He loved his job and had recently qualified as a sergeant and had been sent on duty to Van.

"He had planned to bring his family with him straight away but it wasn't immediately possible, and he missed them a lot.

"They were due to join him very soon but now he is dead."

The family man's death was heart-wrenching for social media users.

Picture shows the children, undated. Gokhan Dal lost his life when a military vehicle overturned and was laid to rest in Aksaray, Turkey. Note: Private photo taken from local media. (Newsflash/NX)

One user wrote: "He asked for a photo of his children just hours before the accident. Heartbreaking."

Another on Facebook posted: "Such a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family."

On Instagram, a user added: "Rest in peace, hero. Your memory lives on."

(MJ Leidig/newsX)