A construction labourer who died on railway tracks in County Durham was officially identified by his DNA, an inquest heard.

Ben Whiteman, 22, from Sacriston, died after he was struck by a train on the East Coast Mainline last month.

An inquest into his death was opened at Crook Coroners’ Court by Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield on Thursday.

The court was told a DNA sample taken from his body matched his father’s.

The incident happened on tracks near Chester-le-Street railway station on June 3.

A post-mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist, Dr Colin Saysell, concluded the cause of death was ‘severe blunt force trauma to the head, trunk and limbs following collision with a locomotive’.

Coroners’ officer Emily Bourne said: “I understand the circumstances to be that on the evening of Monday, June 3, British Transport Police have received a call from Network Rail reporting that the service had struck a person northbound of Chester-le-Street Station on the East Coast mainline.”

Inquest proceedings have been adjourned pending further investigation.

Get more from The Northern Echo and stay informed with subscription. Click here to find out more.

Most read:

Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. This number won’t show up on your phone bill. Or you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org  

Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to face it alone. Call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org for more information.

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org for more information.