Bravery award for pensioner killed saving woman from train track
A GOOD Samaritan killed by a train while trying to save a suicidal woman is in line for a posthumous gallantry award. David Ashworth bravely went on to the track to help family friend Ella Akehurst who was lying injured after jumping from a bridge.
But while the 38-year-old mother of one survived, retired space scientist Dr Ashworth, 74, was hit assistant coroner James Dillon said: ‘The evidence from British Transport Police is that in attempting to assist Miss Akehurst, Dr Ashworth had placed himself in a perilous position.
‘Presumably being unable to push her out of the path of the oncoming train, it is highly likely that he tried to position her so that she wouldn’t suffer further injury. In so doing, he may have sacrificed the opportunity of getting himself out of harm’s way and, as a result, was hit and killed by the train.’
The inquest heard that Dr Ashworth, a widower, had been an unofficial carer for Miss Akehurst who had bipolar disorder. He took her to her GP in Chartham, near Canterbury, Kent, after she felt ‘upset and tearful’ on June 16 last year. But after returning to her home she ran off towards the nearby railway station and he followed her.
Miss Akehurst said in a statement: ‘I had the urge to jump from a height and knew the footbridge was the most accessible. I ran up the steps and jumped and landed on my back.’ She broke several bones and was in hospital for three months.
The Margate inquest was told that Martin Smithers, driver of
‘Caring and totally selfless’
the Ramsgate to Charing Cross train, applied the brakes when he spotted someone on the track. He said in a statement: ‘I put on the brakes and sounded the horn in the hope they could get out of the way but this was not the case as I felt a bump.’
Drivers in cars waiting at a level crossing sounded their horns to raise the alarm after seeing Miss Akehurst jump. A passenger at the station saw Dr Ashworth walk past him on the platform before jumping down to reach the woman.
As well as being a space scientist, Dr Ashworth, of Sturry, near Canterbury, had worked at the University of Kent. He is survived by his two sons. Miss Akehurst’s brother Luke said Dr Ashworth had been ‘a kind, caring and totally selfless person’.
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457 909090, visit a local Samaritans branch or go to www.samaritans.org