Couple killed as man tried to push girlfriend from path of express train

Victim: Samantha Hall, 25, died in Enfield with boyfriend Sean Derry, 26
Felix Allen12 April 2012

A man tried to push his girlfriend out of the path of a speeding train which killed them both, an inquest heard.

Sean Derry, 26, jumped down to rescue Samantha Hall, 25, after she had clambered on to the tracks following a drunken row. They died instantly when they were hit at 60mph by the 23.39 from Hertford East to Liverpool Street at Turkey Street station in Enfield.

The jury saw harrowing footage taken from the front of the train which showed Mr Derry trying in vain to lift Miss Hall up to the platform.

Train driver Leslie Bennett told North London coroner's court: "In the headlights I could see there were two people on the track next to the platform. My reaction was to put the brake on and sound the horn then look away.

"It was obvious they could not avoid the train, and I could not avoid them. The gentleman was trying to push the girl out of the way. I heard a thud. I wasn't sure if I had hit one person or two."

Mr Derry, a pharmaceutical recruitment agent, and Miss Hall, a receptionist, had gone drinking after work on March 5 with friends Paul Langton and Zoe Sitton. At the Red Lion in Hertford Road, Enfield, Miss Hall suddenly became "angry" with her boyfriend.

In a statement read to the court, Miss Sitton said: "Sam wasn't in an aggressive mood or being troublesome, but she was loud and throwing her arms about. For no apparent reason she became angry towards Sean. He tried to calm her down, he was tipsy but passive. After a short while they calmed down."

Mr Langton said in a statement: "Outside the pub Sam said she was going to stay at a friend's or family member's house. Shortly afterwards I noticed Sam and Sean walking together kissing and cuddling. Five minutes later I noticed they were no longer with us."

The couple left shortly before midnight. A few minutes later CCTV footage shows Miss Hall at the station alone. She sits on the platform edge then disappears. About 30 seconds later Mr Derry arrives and jumps on to the tracks.

Mr Derry, of Edmonton, was more than three-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit and Miss Hall, of Broxbourne, nearly three times over the limit. Both had cocaine in their bodies, the court heard yesterday.

The jury returned verdicts of accidental death.

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