A PARATROOPER from Colchester has been critically injured during a training jump in the US.

On Monday about 50 paratroopers were injured.

About 48 hours earlier a member of 16 Air Assault Brigade was critically injured.

A spokesman from Colchester Garrison said: “We can confirm that British service person was injured during an airborne exercise at Fort Bragg on Saturday.

“The soldier’s family have been informed and are being fully supported by the Army.”

It is understood he was injured in North Carolina during training operation Joax.

The soldier was knocked unconscious after colliding with another soldier as he left the aircraft and could not control his landing as a result.

It is understood he landed very badly and was rushed to hospital.

About 2,100 British and American troops have been involved in a series of jumps, including about 950 from Third Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, based at Merville Barracks in Colchester.

It is part of several weeks training which includes combat missions on the ground.

On Monday dozens of paratroopers were injured after hitting the ground hard.

Several broke bones and damaged backs while others were left with strains and sprains because of the level of impact.

It is not clear if the plane was too low or the equipment too heavy.

An Army spokesman said: “We can confirm that during an exercise on Monday at Fort Bragg in the US, in which 2,100 UK and US paratroopers jumped in a joint airborne operation, a small number of UK personnel received were injured.

“There were no life-threatening injuries and the majority of troopers were able to resume normal duties by the end of the day.

“Personnel exiting an aircraft in flight carrying full combat equipment always involves an element of risk which is why precautions to minimise potential injuries are made, and were ahead of this exercise, which was the largest of its type since 1996.”