Exclusive CCTV footage has revealed the final, heartbreaking moments of 23-year-old Dezi Freeman, who was tragically struck and killed by a train at Woking railway station in Surrey.
The images, presented at a coroner's inquest this week, show Mr Freeman moments before the collision on October 18th last year. The hearing was told that a 'perfect storm' of factors, including a missing safety guard and his own mental health struggles, contributed to the devastating incident.
A Preventable Tragedy?
Assistant coroner Karen Henderson heard evidence suggesting the tragedy might have been prevented. The inquest was told that a safety guard, whose role was to prevent exactly this type of incident, was not present on the platform at the time.
Mr Freeman, who had a history of mental health issues, was seen on camera behaving erratically and appearing confused near the platform edge shortly before the fast-moving South Western Railway service arrived.
Grieving Family's Heartbreak
The young man's family described their immense grief, paying tribute to a 'loving son and brother' who was 'let down by the system.' They are now calling for a full review of safety procedures at railway stations across the country.
British Transport Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. The coroner is expected to deliver a conclusion following the completion of the inquest.
The case has raised serious questions about passenger safety and the support systems in place for vulnerable individuals on the UK's rail network.
