An inquest has failed to establish why an off-duty Sussex ambulance paramedic was lying on a railway track just before he was killed by a train.

Antony Hinchliffe, 39, from Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, died on the railway line between Worthing and East Worthing stations.

An inquest into his death yesterday at Worthing Hospital heard it was a mystery what he was doing on the railway line.

Mr Hinchliffe, a keen cyclist, had drunk between seven and eight pints of Guinness in his local pub, the Seldon Arms in Lyndhurst Road, on the night he died on October 24.

Part-time barmaid Alexandra Kerridge said one of the last things he said before heading off was: "I'm a bit drunk now".

The inquest was told British Transport Police could only surmise what happened next.

Instead of walking the short distance home, Mr Hinchliffe instead headed towards East Worthing Railway Station.

Sergeant Jack Iannou, senior investigating officer, said he believed Mr Hinchliffe had decided to walk along the track.

South Central train driver Trevor Parsons said he was about half way between Worthing and East Worthing stations at shortly after 11.20pm when he saw Mr Hinchliffe lying across the tracks. He said he could do nothing to avoid him.

The inquest was told Mr Hinchliffe died instantly from multiple injuries.

Recording an open verdict, West Sussex coroner Roger Stone said: "It cannot be classed totally as accidental because there is the possibility he might have decided to harm himself."