Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
TRAGEDY ON THE TRACKS
Family’s heartache as schoolgirl Lucy struck by train at railway station
Aheartbroken family have paid a moving tribute to their “kind-hearted and beautiful” girl after she was tragically struck by a train and killed. Popular Lucy Fagg, 16, died on the tracks at Sturry railway station on Friday evening. Her devastated parents have described the Spires Academy pupil as a sporty, ambitious teen, who was “loved by everyone”.
She was the youngest of three children and lived in Vauxhall Avenue, Canterbury.
Her older sister, Sophie, 19, remembers her as a “beautiful young woman”.
“She was the sweetest, most kind-hearted girl in the world; the most innocent and lovely girl you could have met,” she said. “She was so beautiful and had a truly wonderful soul. “Lucy did anything she could for anyone. She was an amazing sister. She was always giggling, that amazing little giggle that I yearn to hear once more. “Myself and my family are absolutely broken. I didn’t know life could be ripped apart like this.”
On the day of her death, Lucy had been at school before going for food with a friend and meeting others in town, then returning home. At about 7pm, she left to buy some fruit from a shop. Her mum, Tammy, 43, said: “She had just popped out from here – she was gone 20 minutes. She told us she was off out, which is normal. She’s 16, it was only seven in the evening.” But at 7.25pm, British Transport
Police and ambulance crews rushed to nearby Sturry railway station following a report someone had been hit by a train.
Lucy was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. Her family say they are awaiting the outcome of an investigation into the circumstances of her death, which is not being treated as suspicious by police. Since the tragedy, they have had countless visits from those paying respects to their muchloved girl, who they say was an all-rounder who “achieved everything she set her mind to”. “There was no failing in Lucy’s book,” said Tammy. “Once she achieved something, that was that, next project.
“It was like a little bucket list - ‘I wanted to do that, done it, I wanted to do that, done it’. She had to give things the best she had.
“There’s not a sport she wasn’t good at - diving, fishing, long jump, gymnastics. She had a lot of records at school. “She had the widest range of music taste – Lewis Capaldi was her favourite. She did a bit of everything really.”
As a life-long animal lover, Lucy had a treasured pet chihuahua, Rosie, and a budgie named Kiwi, which she taught to speak.
She dreamed of turning her passion into a career, and had been offered a place at college to work with animals after finishing her GCSES, with the aim of becoming a zoo keeper. Lucy was also an avid Liverpool fan who “would never miss a game for anything”, convincing her dad to drive all the way to Liverpool after her team’s Champions League victory last year to cheer them on as they paraded through the streets. “She was always so determined,” said Sophie. “She’d put her mind to gymnastics, join competitions and win, then she’d go onto the keyboard, and she’d just started guitar. “She really wasn’t scared to admit what she loved. She just did what she enjoyed.” Lucy was also a talented angler and once a month spent the weekend fishing with her dad at Chartham and District Angling Society, where she holds the record for the most fish caught in a 48-hour period. “She was fishing up against adults,” said her proud dad Stuart, 44. “The first fish she caught was the biggest fish in the lake - it was 24lb 10oz.” At school, Lucy was popular and “loved by everyone”. But the teenager also helped those less fortunate.
“If other kids were being picked on, she’d go and say hello and make sure they were OK,” said Sophie. “She didn’t like other people being sad.” “When she did cookery lessons at school, rather than eat her own food she’d give it to the kids she thought didn’t have any lunch,” remembers her dad. Lucy’s death has rocked the community where she and her parents have lived all their lives, and prompted an outpouring of tributes on social media. Flowers fill the family’s home, and have also been laid at the place where Lucy lost her life. Sturry and District United Church was open on Saturday, to give members of the community space for reflection, prayer or to light a candle. All Saints Church in Canterbury will also be open for remembrance from 4.30pm to 6pm tomorrow (Friday). All are welcome.