A PARATROOPER has died after being attacked on a night out days before he was due to join Colchester-based colleagues in Afghanistan.
Private Rory McWilliams, a member of Colchester-based Second Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, was assaulted in the early hours of last Sunday in his home town of Northampton.
He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he died on Saturday afternoon, Northamptonshire Police said.
Pte McWilliams was believed to be celebrating his final weekend at home before his first tour of Afghanistan with 16 Air Assault Brigade.
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Kinchin urged anyone with information, including anyone who may have helped Mr McWilliams after the attack, to contact police or Crimestoppers.
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