Just seconds before a 23-year-old man died after being struck by a train, he told his mum he loved her, an inquest has heard. Aaron James Aldom, from Chester, died on a railway line in Flintshire, North Wales on April 17, 2022.
During the inquest into Mr Aldom's death, which took place at Ruthin County Hall in Denbighshire on Tuesday, Mr Aldom's mother, Michelle Aldom, recalled her son's tragic last message to her, as reported by NorthWalesLive.
She said she had called her son on the afternoon of April 17 as she'd noticed he'd been in a "low mood" when he had left the house earlier that day and he told her that he'd been having problems with his girlfriend. But he'd sounded "calm," she said.
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Ms Aldom told the court that whilst on the phone to her son, she could hear what sounded like trains passing by and after talking for almost an hour, she suggested that he come to home to talk. Sadly, he did not return home.
Instead, Ms Aldom heard her son shout "I love you," followed by the sound of a moving train. In a beautiful tribute to her son, she described him as a "kind and caring young man" who "would do anything for anyone he knew".
During the inquest, a statement was read from the driver of the train that collided with Mr Aldom. The court heard the train had been travelling at around 75mph through Saltney Ferry in Flintshire when Mr Aldom stepped onto the track.
The driver said Mr Aldom was around 100 metres away from him when he walked onto the track and stood directly in front of the oncoming train. Sadly, despite applying the emergency brakes, the driver was unable to stop the train from colliding with Mr Aldom, causing fatal injuries.
Emergency crews were called to the scene and the main road nearby, the B5129, was closed for a short period, the inquest heard. Mr Aldom was pronounced dead by paramedics at 5.16pm.
A post-mortem examination carried out on Mr Aldom gave the medical cause of death as "multiple injuries" due to a collision with a train, the inquest heard.
In response, assistant coroner for North West Wales, Kate Sutherland recorded a conclusion of suicide. "I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to Aaron's family and friends in dealing with this tragic set of circumstances in such a young man, who had his life ahead of him," she added.
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