MAN ‘DIED INSTANTLY’ IN TRAIN HORROR
DRUNKEN OFFICE WORKER ELECTROCUTED WHEN HE CLIMBED ON ROOF
AN OFFICE worker was electrocuted when he drunkenly climbed onto the roof of a train at Manchester Piccadilly Station, an inquest heard.
Nathan Dewhurst had been enjoying a night out in Manchester with friends in the run-up to Christmas in the hours before his death.
The office administrator had arrived at the station shortly before 10.30pm, planning to catch a train back to his home in Macclesfield.
But in his intoxicated state, Nathan ended up on a different platform, where he attempted to climb onto a stationary Virgin train.
An inquest into his death heard how Nathan climbed to the top of the carriage, before being struck by electricity running from the overhead wires. He was killed instantly, the inquest was told.
The hearing at Manchester town hall revealed Nathan had been four times the legal drink-drive limit when he slipped under the radar of security.
Station barriers had been open that evening, allowing members of the public to move freely between platforms.
Despite no trains being scheduled from Platform 7 till the following morning, Nathan was able to pass through and wander the platform. Station staff were not aware of his presence, or his actions, until after he was electrocuted.
His family and friends said they had no concerns over his mental welfare leading up to the tragedy on December 1, 2017.
Senior Manchester Coroner Nigel Meadows concluded that his death was an accident, in circumstances which he described as ‘most unfortunate.’ The events leading up to Nathan’s death were captured on CCTV, which staff say cannot be manned at all times due to lack of resources.
Tony Jeffries, a shift manager for Network Rail, told the hearing: “It was a busy night in the run-up to Christmas and myself and members of staff had been walking around the platforms monitoring what was going on. I have no recollection of seeing Nathan myself but he was picked up by CCTV.
“From the CCTV, Nathan was acting boisterously and his behaviour was not out of the ordinary for that time of night near Christmas.
“It appears that Nathan initially climbs between the carriages of the train, before lying down on top of the carriage.
“He is then seen to get up, but it is not clear whether he actually made contact with the overhead wire. All the camera shows is a flash of electricity.”
Nathan’s family raised initial concerns about how Nathan’s risky behaviour went undetected by station staff.
But an internal investigation conducted by Network Rail concluded that nothing could have been done to prevent his death.
An investigation conducted by British Transport Police concluded that Nathan’s death was a ‘tragic accident.’ Fatality Investigator Leanne Callan told the hearing: “Nathan had been enjoying a typical night out in Manchester and had been drinking alcohol.
“There was nothing of note to rise any concerns to his friends about his behaviour.
“Conversations with friends, family and his GP revealed no evidence of mental health issues or anything we needed to investigate.”