A FAMILY have spoken for the first time about the tragic loss of a parachutist who died after he jumped from an aeroplane.

Julie Wilson said her brother, Andy, had lived life to the full and had died doing something he loved.

The 25-year-old's body was found in a field a mile from Shotton Airfield, near Peterlee, east Durham, in June after he jumped from a plane at Peterlee Parachute Centre.

Now his RAF regiment, which is based at RAF Leeming, in North Yorkshire, is putting a rugby team together to take on his friends in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, at a fundraising night in his memory.

Ms Wilson, 34, who lives in St Helen Auckland, County Dur-ham, near where Mr Wilson lived with their parents, said: "He always lived life on the edge. He did more in 25 years than most lads do in a lifetime. All of us are very proud of him and what he has achieved. We are just devastated that he is not here anymore.

"The idea of a rugby match started at his funeral and the lads have worked hard to put it together, and everyone who knew Andy or wants to come along will be welcomed."

Mr Wilson's Squadron 34 colleagues are putting together a team of 15 to take on a side from Bishop Auckland Rugby Club in a match on Wednesday, at 6.30pm.

Following RAF tradition, his kit that was left in his locker will be auctioned along with music equipment he used when he was a DJ at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club.

David Downs, 24, from 34 Squadron, said: "It is traditional when someone dies in the RAF that we auction off his kit and anything that is in their locker.

"We want to raise as much money as possible. Andy was a real partygoer and a practical joker. This is the lads' way of paying their respects."

The money raised will go to buy the Andrew Wilson Memorial Trophy, which will be given to promising RAF recruits.

Regiment spokesman Andy Floyd said: "It will be something that will be given at the passing-out parade to the most promising student.

"Andy loved his job and he would have been proud of that, but I think he would also have been a bit embarrassed at all the fuss."