Teenager Hailed as Hero at Inquest After Dying in Bid to Save Friend from Train
A teenager has been posthumously hailed as a hero after he died attempting to save a distressed friend who had jumped onto a railway line. Jordan Everett, aged 16, tried to push his friend Joshua Myers, also 16, to safety from an oncoming Avanti West Coast train, but both were struck and died at the scene near Poynton railway station in Cheshire.
Tragic Events on the Railway Line
The incident occurred on the evening of July 3 last year, after a group of friends had gathered at a local skate park. Joshua Myers, from Handforth, Cheshire, climbed over a gate onto the rail platform and descended onto the track. According to evidence presented at Cheshire Coroner’s Court, Joshua stated he wanted to kill himself. When Jordan Everett, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, saw the lights of the approaching train, he jumped down in a desperate attempt to rescue his friend.
HM Senior Coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, reviewed CCTV footage which showed that only seconds elapsed between the first sight of the train's lights and the impact. She remarked, "They could not have moved fast enough with a train coming at that speed. Jordan was thinking solely about saving his friend. His act of selflessness in trying to save his friend is to be commended." Concluding that Jordan's death was an accident, she directly addressed his mother, Nicola, stating, "I am terribly sorry for your loss and to other members of your family and friends. I know you wanted him to be hailed a hero for what he did. Well, he was a hero."
Separate Inquest for Joshua Myers
In a separate inquest held at the court in Warrington, Ms Devonish concluded that Joshua Myers died of misadventure. She ruled that while Joshua was shouting about wanting to kill himself and climbed down onto the track, there was no evidence he intended to take his own life. Instead, his behavior was likely influenced by alcohol, leading to impulsivity. The coroner noted that his actions were contributed to by several stresses in his life, including peer pressure, bullying both at school and online, and outstanding allegations made against him to the police.
The inquest heard that the police investigation involved a claim of sexual assault, but no charges had been brought. Ms Devonish elaborated, "We know he was inebriated that night. He had been having a very stressful time. Being bullied at school, bullied in the community, bullied online. It is a lot to cope with for anyone, let alone a teenager. His friends were all aware of it and were trying to protect him as well as his family of course." She extended her condolences to Joshua's family, describing it as "a very sad case."
Witness Accounts and Family Statements
Train driver Bryan Holt provided a statement to the inquest, explaining that he approached the well-lit track and platform at 10:10 PM and very clearly saw two people on the line. He immediately deployed the emergency brake. Holt recalled, "The rest of it was over in a split second. I think I saw both of them trying to move... they both went in different directions. They looked desperate to get out of the way of the train."
A teenage friend who was on the platform told police that Jordan tried to "rugby tackle" Joshua to the other side of the track. He said, "He was shouting 'get off the tracks Josh, get off please'. Like he was begging him. The minute we saw the lights was the minute Jordan jumped on. He jumped on to try and save him but it didn’t work." He added that Joshua had started talking about killing himself approximately ten minutes before the incident occurred.
Joshua's parents, Warren and Jenny Myers, attended their son's inquest. Mrs Myers described Joshua as "bright, active and deeply loved by his family." She noted that he thrived in their company but had begun drinking and taking drugs after joining a new friendship group, and had started going missing from home. She stated, "He became upset when people started making claims about him which were not true. He didn’t want to die. We know he would have been terrified. His death was not something he wanted or planned." The coroner supported this, indicating that evidence suggested Joshua was "actually trying to avoid the train at the last minute."
Mrs Myers expressed that the family believed her "vulnerable" son had been "failed" by every professional service he encountered. However, the coroner responded that "a lot was going on in the background" with various support services. Ms Devonish explained, "Nothing was working and despite all the interventions they could not find a way of helping him. In relation to the support that Joshua was receiving, the indication was that he did not have a mental health issue and that his problems related to his drinking. He was probably drinking to drown out everything going on in his life."
Inspector Claire Miles of Cheshire Constabulary informed the inquest that she presumed the allegations against Joshua were being handled by the force's child protection unit. She clarified, "As far as I’m aware he was certainly not charged and I don’t think he was ever going to be charged."
Remembering Jordan Everett
In a statement to her son's inquest, Jordan's mother, Nicola Everett, said, "Our hearts are broken beyond repair. We understand and sympathise with Joshua’s family and friends. We hold no malice towards them. Our pain is unimaginable and we realise they must feel the same. Jordan lost his life trying to save his friend. His bravery should be known."
Jordan's father, Paul Everett, who was too traumatized to attend the inquest, shared that Jordan's greatest passion was aviation. From a young age, he had watched planes take off and land at Manchester Airport, and his dream was to become a commercial pilot. He was due to start a course at Manchester College in September, which included a work placement at the airport. The inquest also heard that Jordan faced emotional challenges, with the Covid-19 lockdowns having a "significant impact on him," compounded by the death of a close family member during the pandemic.
Mr Everett reflected, "Jordan was a fun, caring, loving and kind person, and was always thinking of others which he demonstrated right up to his last actions." This sentiment was echoed by the coroner's commendation, solidifying Jordan Everett's legacy as a true hero in the face of tragedy.
