A YOUNG man who saw his best friend murdered is out of hospital.

And he had a message for his pal: “Love you big man. Sleep tight”.

Connor Paton, 18, suffered stab wounds in the terrifying incident in Marsden which saw Craig Hepburn suffer fatal injuries.

And now he has returned to his home in Scotland and has led tributes to his dead friend, who was just 19 and visiting relatives in the Colne Valley.

Connor, who underwent emergency surgery at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary after the early-hours attack on Saturday, posted on Facebook to thank friends for their kind wishes.

He posted: “Thanks for all the messages. Am home fit. Gutted Craig’s not here. RIP Craig Hepburn. Love you big man. Sleep tight. x”

Craig’s devastated girlfriend Amber Sengupta took to Twitter to express her feelings.

She said: “Four and a half years together. Love you always Craig. RIP. Forever in my heart, love you.

“Don’t know how to feel or what to do. Have to tweet and let it out :( feel sick :(

“Missing someone is one thing, but knowing I’ll never get to speak or see you again is killing me.”

As two men accused of stabbing Craig and Connor appeared in court, details emerged of a touching and emotional memorial service.

It will see hundreds of lanterns released in tribute to stab victim Craig Hepburn.

A crowd of around 400 family, friends and fellow students are expected to turn out for the tribute in Craig’s home town of Linwood, Paisley, near Glasgow, on Thursday night.

Craig, a popular healthcare student, had been visiting his uncle Scott in Marsden, when he was fatally stabbed, alongside Connor, who was seriously injured.

Lisa, from Paisley, is one of the group organising the lantern tribute, and said: “There will be over 400 people having a memorial night, with everyone letting off lanterns.

“All of his friends are organising it together and we have also set up a facebook page called Tributes To Heppy.

“His parents are still in England, but they know what we are doing.

“He was a wee gem. He was a really lovely guy who touched everybody he met.

“There will be a lot of people there from the college – even lecturers. We will be lighting up the sky for Craig.”