Jordan Everett, 16, tried to push Joshua Myers, 16, to safety after he ran down on to a railway line at Poynton railway station in Cheshire – both were fatally hit by a train
A brave teenager has been hailed ‘a hero’ after he died in a bid to save a ‘stressed’ friend who jumped on to a rail line.
Aspiring pilot Jordan Everett, 16, tried to push Joshua Myers, 16, to safety from an oncoming train – but both were struck and died from their injuries at the scene at Poynton railway station in Cheshire.
The pair were among a group of friends who had gathered at a skate park in the evening of July 3 last year before Joshua climbed over a gate on to the rail platform and made his way on to the track.
Cheshire Coroner’s Court heard that Joshua, from Handforth, Cheshire, had said he wanted to kill himself – and that Jordan, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, jumped down to save him when he saw the lights of an oncoming Avanti West Coast train.
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HM Senior Coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, said CCTV footage showed it was a matter of seconds before the lights of the train were first seen and the impact.
She said: “They could not have moved fast enough with a train coming at that speed. Jordan was thinking solely about saving his friend. His act of selflessness in trying to save his friend is to be commended.”
Concluding his death was an accident, she told the youngster’s mother, Nicola: “I am terribly sorry for your loss and to other members of your family and friends. I know you wanted him to be hailed a hero for what he did.
“Well, he was a hero.”
Earlier at a separate inquest held at the court in Warrington, Ms Devonish concluded that Joshua died of misadventure.
She ruled: “Joshua was shouting he wanted to kill himself and he climbed down from the platform but there was no evidence he intended to take his own life but rather was under the influence of alcohol that caused him to be impulsive.”
She said his behaviour was likely to have been contributed to by a number of stresses in his life including peer pressure, bullying and outstanding allegations made against him to the police.
The inquest heard the investigation involved a claim of sexual assault but no charges had been brought.
Ms Devonish went on: “We know he was inebriated that night. He had been having a very stressful time. Being bullied at school, bullied in the community, bullied online.
“It is a lot to cope with for anyone, let alone a teenager. His friends were all aware of it and were trying to protect him as well as his family of course.”
She also passed on her condolences to Joshua’s family and told them it was “a very sad case”.
In a statement to the inquest, train driver Bryan Holt said he approached the “well lit” track and platform at 10.10pm on the evening of the incident.
He said he had “very clearly had seen two people” on the line and deployed his emergency brake, adding: “The rest of it was over in a split second. I think I saw both of them trying to move…they both went in different directions.
“They looked desperate to get out of the way of the train.”
A teenage friend of the youngsters on the platform told police that Jordan tried to “rugby tackle” Joshua to the other side of the track.
He said: “He was shouting ‘get off the tracks Josh, get off please’. Like he was begging him.
“The minute we saw the lights was the minute Jordan jumped on. He jumped on to try and save him but it didn’t work.”
He said Joshua had started talking about killing himself about 10 minutes before the incident happened – though the coroner said the evidence suggested that Joshua was “actually trying to avoid the train at the last minute”.
Mrs Myers said the family believed her “vulnerable” son had been “failed” by every professional service he came into contact with.
The coroner, Ms Devonish, said “a lot was going on in the background” with various support services, and said: “Nothing was working and despite all the interventions they could not find a way of helping him.
“The indication was that he did not have a mental health issue and that his problems related to his drinking. He was probably drinking to drown out everything going on in his life.”
Cheshire Constabulary’s Inspector Claire Miles told the inquest she presumed the allegations made against Joshua were being dealt with by the force’s child protection unit.
She said: “As far as I’m aware he was certainly not charged and I don’t think he was ever going to be charged.”
In a statement to her son’s inquest, Jordan’s mother, Nicola Everett, said: “Our hearts are broken beyond repair.
“We understand and sympathise with Joshua’s family and friends. We hold no malice towards them. Our pain is unimaginable and we realise they must feel the same.
“Jordan lost his life trying to save his friend. His bravery should be known.”
His father, Paul Everett, who did not attend the inquest, said Jordan’s greatest passion was aviation and from a young age he had watched planes take off and land at Manchester Airport.
His dream was to become a commercial pilot, he said, and he was due to start a course at Manchester College in September which included a work placement at the airport.
Jordan also faced emotional challenges, the inquest heard, and the Covid-19 lockdowns had a “significant impact on him”, along with the death of a close family member during the pandemic.
Mr Everett said: “Jordan was a fun, caring, loving and kind person. and was always thinking of others which he demonstrated right up to his last actions.”
*If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch.
