If you are feeling suicidal you can call the Samaritans free at any time on 116 123.

A teenage boy ran barefoot from his family home in the middle of the night and later stepped in front of a train, an inquest heard.

Apprentice bricklayer Tom Young described by his family as academically bright and a 'good lad', had been out with friends on the night before his death near to Steeton and Silsden train station, near Keighley, on Saturday, February 1.

His dad Richard told the hearing that the night before his death, Tom had arrived home later than agreed and had apologised.

His wife, Rebecca, had gone downstairs just after midnight and could see that her son had been drinking "but appeared fine" and had then gone to bed.

The following morning, Tom wasn't at home and so his parents thought he had got up early to go to work.

His family reported him missing later that day when they discovered he hadn't turned up at work.

Mr Young said a British Transport Police officer had called at their home in Cross Hills, near Keighley, shortly after midnight the following day to tell them the tragic news.

Since receiving the news, Mr Young said he had been "in shock" and unable to understand why it had happened.

"I can't understand how or why this has happened," he said in a statement which was read out to the court.

"Me and my family are devastated at the loss of our son. We are trying to come to terms with the loss but it's very hard."

Mr Young described his son as "very clever" and said he had done well in his exams at South Craven School. However, he had been bored at school and wanted to leave and get a job.

He had been working for a company as an apprentice bricklayer.

Mr Young said he had never seen any signs that his son had previously self-harmed and he had never suffered with mental health problems.

"He was a good lad. He never really brought any problems home."

British Transport Police officer Michael Kelly told the inquest in Bradford that CCTV footage had shown Tom running from the family home at 1.25am.

He was not wearing any shoes and, at 1.28am, was seen walking on Skipton Road.

He was later tragically killed by a freight train.

The train driver told police that a young man had run onto the track around 20 yards in front of the train. The driver described what happened appearing to be a 'deliberate act'.

Mr Kelly said Tom's friends had been contacted and asked if they had seen Tom taking any substance. None of the friends had said they had seen any drugs.

A post mortem examination concluded that Tom had died from multiple injuries consistent with being struck by a train.

Recording a narrative conclusion, assistant coroner Mary Burke said it was clear that Tom's family were a "very supportive and loving family who cared for him deeply."

Ms Burke said there had been nothing untoward in Tom's behaviour which would have given his family cause to be worried or concerned.

Ms Burke said Tom had deliberately run into the path of the train but it was not possible to say what his intentions were at the time. There were no suspicious circumstances.

"There is no history at all that he has ever intended to harm himself. The only person able to answer that (about his intentions) is Tom himself and that's not going to be possible.

"I cannot give you an answer. I do not know what Tom's intentions were."

  • If you are feeling suicidal you can call the Samaritans free at any time on 116 123.