Eastbourne builder dies after being hit by a train

An Eastbourne builder died after being hit by a train near Hampden Park railway station.
Hampden Park Train Station, Eastbourne  (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-171201-002012008Hampden Park Train Station, Eastbourne  (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-171201-002012008
Hampden Park Train Station, Eastbourne (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-171201-002012008

Michael Reid, 27, had been walking along the tracks late at night when disaster struck, an inquest into his death heard on Thursday (July 4).

His family said in a statement to British Transport Police he had “many friends”, particularly in Hastings and St Leonards, and would often socialise there.

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The inquest at Eastbourne Town Hall heard the father, of Willowfield Road, had been on a night out with a group of friends in Hailsham on Friday, February 22.

At the end of the night Kurtis Smith, a friend and colleague of Mr Reid, dropped him off at Hampden Park station to get a train back home at around 12.30am.

But Mr Smith said in a statement read at the inquest, “He went on at me about driving him home. He kept asking if he’d done anything wrong, I said he hadn’t but I didn’t want to drive to the other side of town.

“He said thanks, and started walking off. He was clearly [drunk], I knew he was in a good mood throughout the evening, he was laughing and in good spirits. He didn’t seem unhappy about anything.”

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Detective Inspector Thanh Ly of the British Transport Police said Mr Reid was last seen by CCTV walking towards the end of the platform.

A BTP investigation could not retrieve any further CCTV from trains or further evidence of where exactly the collision happened.

A fisherman, Michael Mantripp, who had been camping nearby heard a noise overnight, the inquest heard.

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Mr Reid’s body was recovered the following day, around 100-200 yards from the station.

Coroner Alan Craze said, “There’s no evidence at all pointing towards suicide. His friend was quite clear about his mood so I discount that. He’s decided to walk home.”

He recorded a conclusion Mr Reid died of misadventure and expressed his condolences to the family.