Coroner's stark warning on death track

He was speaking at the inquest into the death of Arron Hill - also known as Arron Gardner - who died on the tracks at Bexhill Station in July last year.

A friend revealed Arron talked about using the line as a short-cut and stories of young people scaling the station wall and walking on the tracks were common.

The 18-year-old trainee roofing contractor died of multiple injuries.

The post mortem examination found Arron, of London Road, had 280 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood in his body - approximately three-and-a-half times the legal driving limit.

He had been drinking in the Ice Cube, in St Leonards Road, with Darren Sibley and several other friends on the evening of his death.

They went to a flat of one of the group, before Arron left around midnight.

Mr Sibley said: "He was drunk. You could tell he was drunk, he bumped into me a couple of times."

Mr Sibley told the inquest he was aware of people using the railway line as a short cut.

"We have heard about people doing it, though personally myself I haven't done it. He (Arron) said he had crossed it before and people used to do it when they were out."

"He did like to climb around on roofs and scaffolding and all sorts, so I could see him doing something like that."

Friends had offered to escort Arron home or give him a bed for the night but he declined.

Witness Alan Bacon, staying in his sister's home overlooking the railway station, confirmed seeing a male using the recycling bins outside Sainsbury's to scale the station fence.

A statement by Mr Bacon said: "I looked out and suddenly saw a male standing on a large bin backing on to the superstore."

Mr Bacon heard a loud bang and noticed Arron lying motionless on the tracks

"I could see he was not moving at all, I thought he had been knocked out."

He went downstairs to call 999.

Train driver, Pierre Fournier gave his account of how, in poor light, he first thought the obstacle on the line was a bag of cement or grit left by railway workers.

Coroner Alan Craze said the driver was in no way responsible for the accident.

"Obviously you put the brake on but there was no way you could stop the train in time."

Mr Craze said he wanted to warn people about the dangers of crossing a railway track.

He added: "There is nothing macho whatsoever about putting your life in extreme danger."

A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded.

*The week after his death, Arron's family pleaded with youngsters who risk their lives on the tracks.

His mother Samantha Gardner said: "Don't do it - how long does it take to walk over the footbridge a couple of minutes or more."

The family declined to comment after the inquest.