Investigation into train companies after teenager’s death in Brighton

Minutes earlier, Carl Klimaytys had been electrocuted as he walked across train tracks at Preston Park after a night out with friends in Brighton.

The 18-year-old was then hit by the train and dragged 50 metres.

During an inquest into his death, held at Hove Town Hall, Carl’s friend Cezary Sowa said the group were separated on the way home to Crawley.

He said: “The train I was on was the one that ran Carl over.

“It didn’t cross my mind it was him, I just thought he got another train home.”

Cezary, Carl and friend Harry Baker were out in Brighton in December last year.

The inquest heard that in the early hours of the next day, they became separated and Carl boarded the first train back to Crawley.

Realising his friends had failed to catch it, he got off at Preston Park to join them on the second train.

He noticed it was due on the opposite platform to where he was and decided to cross the tracks.

He was electrocuted and died instantly.

Within minutes, passerby Conor Morgan spotted Carl’s body and pushed an emergency button.

An untrained temporary staff member answered the call.

Despite hearing the body was at platform two, the call-taker accidentally told staff he was at platform one.

Karl Grewar, of Network Rail, said: “No one would knowingly send a train over a body, the belief was Carl was on the tracks at platform one. It was incorrectly processed.”

Platform one was contained and staff tried to tell the driver to continue straight through platform two.

But due to a fault in the train carrying Cezary and Harry, owned by Govia Thameslink, staff were unable to contact the driver to warn him.

The inquest was told that although contact would not have changed the outcome, it showed what Brighton and Hove coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley described as the train companies’ “catalogue of errors”.

British Transport Police assisted with the incident.

When PC Sasha Patterson reached platform two, he saw Carl’s body and noticed the train arriving on the same tracks.

He attempted to stop the driver but it was too late.

Ms Hamilton-Deeley said: “Carl’s death highlights flaws in the system and what needs to be done.”

While none of the “serious failings” caused Carl’s death, she ordered an investigation into the train companies to prevent future deaths.

Her concerns included the lack of trained staff and warning signs about live rails.

Mr Grewar said signage could encourage someone to end their life and internet campaigns are more effective.

But Ms Hamilton-Deeley said: “If someone made the decision to end their life, a sign won’t change that. Research should be done, we do not have live rails everywhere and some people really aren’t aware.”

She concluded Carl’s death was misadventure.

Bereaved parents: We hope lessons will be learned

VOLKER and Anthea Klimaytys said the death of their son has left a “huge vacuum” in their lives. 
Mrs Klimaytys said Carl was “larger than life” and loved waking up singing in the mornings. 
“He was so alive. He loved music, films, and had so many friends.
“We miss him. I won’t go near trains, I fear I will think I need to get off and save him,” she said. 
Mr Klimaytys said the only positive he could see from his son’s death was to encourage safer train stations. 
Speaking after the inquest he said he was relieved Ms Hamilton-Deeley demanded the train companies involved investigate training of staff and look into signs warning the public of live rails. 
He said: “At least the coroner’s rule will hopefully make sure no other young people, families, train staff, police or anyone involved will have to go through this again.”
Mr Klimaytys said he hopes lessons will be learned from the inquest.
He said: “About one in six youngsters don’t realise tracks are live.
“They aren’t all anyway in the UK.
“From the start we were very concerned about the lack of live rail warnings. 
“That is something I was going to fight for the whole way. 
“In memory of Carl, train companies will hopefully put some at Preston Park and others. 
“I look forward to when I can walk into a station and see a sign for live rail danger.”
Karl Grewar, of Network Rail,  said: “This was a terrible tragedy and thoughts are still with the family of Carl Klimaytys. 
“We hope this inquest brings some closure to his family and friends.”