Italian journalist dies after Paris mugging

PARIS, Aug 15 (Reuters) An Italian sports journalist died in a Paris hospital from a serious head injury suffered when he was mugged at a Paris metro station, police said today.

Sergio Vantaggiato, 40, who was pronounced brain dead shortly after his admission to St. Louis Hospital on Sunday, was officially declared dead at 0325 hrs, a police official said.

Police are hunting two men who snatched the Italian's back pack at the Bir-Hakeim metro station near the Eiffel Tower.

Vantaggiato, who worked for the private TeleRama network, caught up with one of his attackers after a chase but fell during the ensuing struggle, suffering a serious head injury.

Aides to French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said he had called the journalist's family and his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi to express his sadness over the attack.

REUTERS SLD RK1940