AN inquest opened yesterday into the death of a man who was hit by a train in front of horrified passengers at a North-East railway station.
Joseph Leonard Thackeray died instantly on impact with the Glasgow to King's Cross GNER high-speed service, in front of scores of travellers waiting on platforms at Durham station, on Tuesday, March 19.
The train was not scheduled to stop at the station and was passing the southbound platform at about 60mph.
Mr Thackeray, 54, was subsequently identified through fingerprint matches, the hearing, in Durham, was told.
Originally from the Durham area, he was officially of no fixed address at the time of his death, although he was said to be receiving treatment as a voluntary patient at the County Hospital, a psychiatric unit near the station.
Deputy North Durham coroner Brenda Davidson adjourned proceedings pending the outcome of further inquiries into Mr Thackeray's death.
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