Train passenger dies in tunnel accident

The passenger was on a train from London Victoria

A 32-year-old man died after he leant out of a train window as it entered a tunnel at 70mph.

The accident happened on the London Victoria to Worthing service at 12.15 BST on Saturday.

The man struck his head against a tunnel entrance shortly after the train left Hassocks station in West Sussex.

The driver of the train reversed back to Hassocks, where paramedics tried in vain to save the man's life.

Emergency cord

A spokesman from the British Transport Police at Brighton said a number of people on the train witnessed the incident and pulled the emergency cord.

"It is thought the man hit his head on the entrance to Clayton Tunnel between Hassocks and Preston Park," he said.

"The train was reversed back to Hassocks because that was the quickest way for ambulance personnel to gain access to the man.

"Despite their efforts the man died."

He said the man's death was not being treated as suspicious and The Health and Safety Executive and the coroner had been informed.