Man run over by two trains after slipping to his death

A man found dead on railway tracks last week slipped to his death before being run over by two trains, an inquest heard.

The tragic moment Gavin Newton, 33, stumbled off the platform was caught on CCTV at Milton Keynes Central.

The Watford chef lay undiscovered on the track for 17 minutes before he was hit by a freight train at 2.47am on July 21.

But the oblivious driver didn’t realise he had struck him, Milton Keynes Coroner’s Court was told on Friday.

Mr Newton’s body remained on the tracks for another four hours until he was hit by a Virgin Express passenger train at 6.30am.

His death was described as a “sad and tragic accident” by a spokesman for the YMCA who said he had been living since health issues prevented him from working.

It is believed Mr Newton had fallen asleep on the train and missed his stop and got off at Milton Keynes to catch another train in the morning, but soon stumbled off the platform.

A half-empty bottle of whisky was found near his body.

An inquest into Mr Newton’s death opened and adjourned on Friday, July 24.

The full inquest will be held on November 13.