A RAIL passenger who was hit by a train did not commit suicide, the coroner has found.

Anthony Kinsella, aged 55, of London Lane, Bromley, stumbled onto the tracks at Bickley station and struggled in vain to lift himself back onto the platform.

The accountant was hit by the fast Victoria-to-Ramsgate train, which had been travelling at between 60 and 70mph.

There were no witnesses at the station but most of the incident was caught on CCTV.

Croydon Coroner's Court was told Kinsella got off an early-afternoon train on January 17.

PC David Morgan told the inquest Kinsella had then fallen back against the train before moving away. He said: "He was seen to drop some money. He tried to get it but kept falling.

"I formed the opinion he was the worse for drink."

The train driver, Peter Brooks, said he had seen Kinsella on the tracks resting on the platform edge.

He said: "It was impossible for me to stop at that speed but I braked and sounded my horn." Kinsella was taken to Bromley Hospital but died a few hours after being admitted.

Pathologist Dr Adam Coumbe said Kinsella had been drinking heavily.

Coroner Dr Roy Palmer, recording a verdict of accidental death, said: "This must be one of the things that all train drivers dread."