Rail death girl 'had drunk cider'

Kayleigh White (right) had drunk cider before she crossed the track

A 12-year-old girl who was electrocuted on a railway track had been drinking before she crossed it to talk to a stranger, an inquest has heard.

Kayleigh White was with two friends at Broadstairs Station, Kent, when she slipped on the track in August.

The inquest heard she had drunk cider and fell on the 750 volt track as she walked back across the line.

Her mother Deborah White told the court her brother died the same way. A death by misadventure verdict was recorded.

Taken home by police

The inquest at Sandwich Coroner's Court heard how Kayleigh, from Margate, and her friends had drunk a three litre bottle of cider and she had already been sick.

They walked across the track to share a cigarette with a man on the other side and it was as Kayleigh walked back across that she fell on to the track.

A statement by one of Kayleigh's friends, which was read out by a British Transport Police officer, said the 12-year-old always crossed the track and had been taken home by police for doing it.

Her mother said she had warned her daughter not to cross the tracks because her own younger brother had died in the same way.