Girl's railway death 'accidental'

Jade Kenyon was killed instantly by the live railway line

A coroner has ruled that a Kent teenager who was electrocuted on a live railway line died accidentally as she tried to take a shortcut home.

Jade Kenyon, 17, from Snodland, had drunk enough cider to make her "moderately drunk", an inquest heard.

She and a friend had missed their last train home on the night of 19 June.

Coroner Roger Sykes said Jade came into contact with the live line as she tried to find a shoe she had lost. He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Medway Coroners' Court heard how the two girls were walking by the railway tracks on their way home from Cuxton.

Jade was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency crews called to the line at North Halling.

Jade's friends left floral tributes at the spot where she died

Her family, while not blaming anyone for her death, had hoped the coroner might make some recommendations to Network Rail regarding safety measures at the site.

They have been campaigning for extra warning signs and 24-hour CCTV coverage, as well as more education programmes in schools highlighting the dangers of walking on railway tracks.

Network Rail previously said in a statement: "The death of Jade Kenyon was a tragedy and the only good that could come of such a tragedy is that young people realise the potential dangers and are deterred from trespassing on the railway.

"We therefore support the efforts of Jade's mother to raise awareness of these dangers."

Jade was a pupil at Holmesdale Technology College, where she was studying art, law, psychology and sociology at AS level.