Teen killed after falling on live rail

Tributes were paid last week to a well-liked young man who was electrocuted when he fell on a live rail line just one hour into 2009.

Local emergency services responding at 1:30am found that a teenager, Sam Griffiths, slipped and fell onto the live rail, which carries 750 volts, at Burgess Hill station in West Sussex.

The young man was a resident of west London, was taken to a hospital in Brighton where he was pronounced dead.

A spokesperson for the British Transport Police (BTP) said the death was being treated as “non-suspicious,” and is believed that no one else was involved.

Griffiths was a lower-sixth former at Hurstpierpoint College, located in West Sussex. His head teacher described him as a gifted actor and rugby player.

The head teacher added: “He was a lovely young man, full of life and with a gentle, friendly manner. His outgoing nature ensured he soon established himself as a very popular, loved and valued member of the school community.”

Chief inspector of the BTP, Alison Palmer, said: “This appears to have been a tragic accident…Our thoughts are with Sam’s friends and family.”

Thanks to news.scotsman.com for the above quotes, for more information please visit their website.

www.btp.police.uk