Kiwi electrocuted on London train tracks finds inquest

LONDON - A drunken 21-year-old New Zealand student stumbled onto a live rail and was electrocuted after helping a young woman cross tracks on the London Underground, an inquest court was told yesterday.

James Dean, of Tauranga, died on November 16 last year during a visit to England to see a motorcycle show and join a motorcycle team.

An inquest jury at Westminster Coroner's Court delivered a verdict of death by misadventure.

Mr Dean arrived in London on November 15, and had been out drinking with friends in the Walkabout pub in Shepherd's Bush the following night, the court heard.

The group of four were trying to find their way back to the Pelican Pub in Fulham where he was staying.

In a statement, Dylan Gell of Brisbane, said that at about 11pm they got on an underground train at Shepherd's Bush but got off when they realised they were heading in the wrong direction.

At Ladbroke Grove station they decided to take a short-cut to the opposite platform.

"We decided to cross the tracks...I looked and saw James helping Nadya (Hansen) onto the track, saw them both start to run across the tracks and then both stumble after Nadya's heel had broken.

"They were holding onto each other for support. I told them there was a train coming. Next I saw James on the tracks. I went and pulled him back, getting an electric shock.

"Staff told me to get off and I told him to get an ambulance. He just told me to get off. Emergency services arrived soon afterwards," Mr Gell said.

Closed circuit TV camera photos showed the group trying to cross the lines.

Coroner's liaison officer Nigel Huxter said there would have been 630 volts current passing through the line.

Pathologist Dr Peter Wilkins said Mr Dean died from electrocution, and had 151mg of alcohol in his system -- almost twice the legal limit for driving.

Station supervisor Kevin Reynolds said he saw people on the track but did not have time to shout at them as he was getting the electricity shut off.

A friend at the inquest said Mr Dean "had the biggest, most infectious smile in the world."

The inquest was told Mr Dean's father Robbie, a management consultant, was a former New Zealand Formula One motorbike racing champion.

James Dean was hoping to follow in his father's footsteps and the day before his death he had been offered a trial ride for a major motorcycle racing team.

- NZPA