An investigation has been launched after a 32-year-old man died falling from the doors of a moving train.
Horrified rail passengers watched as former hotel worker Alex Smith plunged from the doors of the 11.19am Southern service travelling between Brighton and London Victoria shortly before 11.45am on Monday, March 11.
Mr Smith, of Kings Road, Brighton, fell onto the track moments after the train left Gatwick station, having joined the service about 25 minutes earlier at Brighton.
Train services were delayed for hours following the incident which was witnessed by other commuters.
A source said people watched in horror as Mr Smith was hit by a train heading in the opposite direction.
David Owen, who was on the train from which Mr Smith fell, said: “The death of this young man is tragic, but the question is how and why it was possible for him to open the doors of the train while in motion.
“For me this is a health and safety issue of some magnitude.”
West Sussex coroner’s officer Geoff Charnock confirmed Mr Smith died after falling from the train.
He said he was awaiting a report from British Transport Police (BTP) who confirmed that the death was being treated as “non-suspicious”.
Ongoing enquiries
A spokeswoman said: “The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident. However it is believed the man fell from the train he was travelling on.”
A Southern spokesman said: “The train has been fully tested following the incident and the doors were found to be working as they should.”
Friends of Mr Smith paid tribute to him yesterday. Mariusz Makarski said: “Alex was my work colleague and his death has really shaken up all members of our team.”
Ornella Bureau, of Carcassonne, France, said: “Alex was a colleague and friend.
'Loved and missed'
“We worked in the same hotel for more than a year. He left the job a few months ago and seemed to be doing great.
“My team and I are really sad.
“We loved him and will miss him a lot.”
She added that she felt “terrible” for Mr Smith’s mother. “I hope she’ll be OK because she is a great person with such a big heart and she does not deserve to lose her son.
“She loves him so deeply.”
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