FRIENDS of a former Felixstowe man who collapsed and died yards from his lodgings days after allegedly being attacked have urged Suffolk police to launch a criminal investigation.

FRIENDS of a former Felixstowe man who collapsed and died yards from his lodgings days after allegedly being attacked have urged Suffolk police to launch a criminal investigation.

They said they were shocked to discover that Michael Fox, 48, had multiple bruises on his body after an altercation on St Patrick's Day. The Irishman, who had worked at Felixstowe port, said he been taunted by two men in Aldeburgh who called him "Paddy".

After an incident he started complaining about not feeling well and he collapsed five days later after shopping at the Co-op in Saxmundham Road, Aldeburgh. He fell to the ground in Franklin Road, close to a bungalow where he was staying, and was taken by ambulance to Ipswich Hospital on Saturday. He was later transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, where he died on Monday.

Mr Fox, a jobless labourer , was a regular drinker at the Railway pub, close to the Co-op and he visited the pub on March 17 for an early evening drink. Drinkers in the pub said Mr Fox had then taken a taxi at 8pm to his lodgings in Franklin Road.

Mr Fox was staying with friend Doreen Owen and she said he had decided to go out again to use a public telephone to call his mother in Ireland before returning about 9pm.

The next day Mrs Owen discovered he had extensive bruising on his groin and back.

Mrs Owen said: "He was a jolly person, he was always cracking jokes and everyone is upset that he is dead. He would not admit that he had been attacked because he did not like to be thought of as a wimp.

“The rest of the week he complained about having headaches, he had a nosebleed and his eyes were glazed. His eyes did not seem right.”

Ipswich Hospital called Mrs Owen after staff discovered his bruises and Mrs Owen said the incident on March 17 was reported to the police.

Anne-Marie Breach, a spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary, said Police are investigating and further tests would be carried out to determine how Mr Fox came by his injuries.

Anyone with any information should contact Suffolk Police on 01473 613500.