Teenager Hailed a Hero at Inquest After Dying Trying to Save Friend on Train Tracks
A 16-year-old boy has been posthumously declared "a hero" after he tragically lost his life attempting to rescue a friend from an oncoming train at a railway station in Cheshire. Jordan Everett died alongside his friend Joshua Myers, also 16, after both were struck by an Avanti West Coast service at Poynton station on the evening of July 3 last year, sustaining fatal injuries at the scene.
Coroner Praises Selfless Act
Cheshire Coroner’s Court heard that the incident followed a gathering of friends at a nearby skate park. Joshua, from Handforth, Cheshire, had climbed over a gate onto the platform before descending onto the tracks. Jordan, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, jumped onto the line in a desperate effort to push Joshua to safety as the train approached, but both teenagers were hit.
HM Senior Coroner for Cheshire Jacqueline Devonish said CCTV footage showed it was a matter of seconds before the lights of the train were first seen and the impact occurred. She stated: "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 his death was an accident, she told Jordan’s mother, Nicola: "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
Earlier at a separate inquest held at the court in Warrington, Ms Devonish concluded that Joshua died of misadventure. She ruled: "Joshua was shouting he wanted to kill himself and he climbed down from the platform but there was no evidence he intended to take his own life but rather was under the influence of alcohol that caused him to be impulsive."
She said his behaviour was likely to have been contributed to by a number of stresses in his life including peer pressure, bullying and outstanding allegations made against him to the police. Ms Devonish went on: "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 also passed on her condolences to Joshua’s family and told them it was "a very sad case".
Train Driver's Account and Witness Statements
In a statement to the inquest, train driver Bryan Holt said he approached the "well lit" track and platform at 10.10pm and "very clearly had seen two people" on the line and deployed his emergency brake. He said: "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 of the youngsters 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."
Family Tributes and Emotional Impact
Joshua’s parents Warren and Jenny, along with family members, attended their son’s inquest. Mrs Myers described Joshua as "bright, active and deeply loved by his family". She said he thrived in their company but had started drinking and taking drugs in a new friendship group, as well as going missing from home.
She said: "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 said the evidence suggested that Joshua was "was actually trying to avoid the train at the last minute".
Mrs Myers said the family believed her "vulnerable" son had been "failed" by every professional service he came into contact with. However, the coroner said "a lot was going on in the background" with various support services. Ms Devonish stated: "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, told the inquest she presumed the allegations made against Joshua were being dealt with by the force’s child protection unit. She said: "As far as I’m aware he was certainly not charged and I don’t think he was ever going to be charged."
Jordan Everett's Life and Legacy
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."
His father, Paul Everett, who was too traumatised to attend the inquest, stated Jordan’s greatest passion was aviation and from a young age he had watched planes take off and land at Manchester Airport. His dream was to become a commercial pilot, he said, and he was due to start a course at Manchester College in September which included a work placement at the airport.
Jordan also faced emotional challenges, the inquest heard, and the Covid-19 lockdowns had a "significant impact on him", along with the death of a close family member during the pandemic. Mr Everett said: "Jordan was a fun, caring, loving and kind person and was always thinking of others which he demonstrated right up to his last actions."
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
