**Caution: This article includes information that may be upsetting to some readers.**
An inquest has determined that a man who fell onto the tracks of a London Underground station while intoxicated was accidentally killed after being hit by seven Jubilee line trains.
Brian Mitchell, aged 72, was fatally struck by a train ending its route at Stratford in east London on December 26, 2023, around 14:50 GMT, as stated by East London Coroner’s Court. None of the four train operators on approach activated their emergency brakes.
Surveillance footage revealed that Mr. Mitchell attempted to climb back onto the platform for roughly one minute at 14:45 before lying down on the tracks. His blood alcohol content was measured at 272mg, exceeding the legal driving limit by more than threefold.
Claire Mann, the chief operating officer for Transport for London (TfL), remarked, “We will take action in response to the coroner’s report on preventing future deaths and strive to ensure such incidents do not recur.”
Among the four trains that ran over Mr. Mitchell at platform 13, three continued their journey after the initial tragic incident. The subsequent trains arrived at 14:56, 15:05, and 15:16.
The jury learned that the operator of the third train mistakenly identified the body as an inflatable object. Additionally, the fourth operator did not engage the emergency brakes due to the shock of the situation. There was no signal issued to halt the trains, according to the jury’s findings.
Expressing condolences to Mr. Mitchell’s family, who participated via a virtual connection, Graeme Irvine, the senior coroner for East London, stated, “I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the family. Every loss is a tragedy in its own right, but the circumstances surrounding Brian’s death are especially distressing, and the CCTV footage will stay with me for a long time. I regret that these images may intensify the family’s grief.”
The family of Mr. Mitchell expressed gratitude to the jury and coroner for their meticulous investigation, sharing their disbelief that he could be struck seven times.
Thomas Jervis, a partner at the law firm Leigh Day representing the family, commented, “Users of the TfL network expect that adequate safety measures are in place. The coroner has expressed ongoing concerns that other lives could be endangered and will be putting forth a report aimed at preventing future deaths. While this legal action cannot bring Brian back, his family hopes for meaningful reforms to ensure such an occurrence does not happen again.”
At the time of his demise, Mr. Mitchell, dressed in dark clothing, had spent nearly an hour at the end of the platform with his bag before falling onto the tracks.
A post-mortem examination revealed that blunt-force trauma to the chest and head led to multiple injuries that resulted in his death. Additionally, his face was found to have soot stains.
Jubilee line train operators (TOs) conduct automatic train operations that regulate acceleration and braking. The jury heard that the TOs “did not see, hear, or feel anything out of the ordinary,” according to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). As Mr. Mitchell’s body was situated beneath the rear carriage of the arriving train, it was unlikely that any of the outbound drivers would have noticed him.
The inquest was informed that the RAIB was told by all four incoming TOs that they had not been preparing to exit their cabs as they approached Stratford.
Mr. Mitchell had spent Christmas Day visiting a friend in Bushy and took two buses to Stanmore station, where he boarded the Jubilee line, utilizing his Freedom Pass to travel to the line’s end before taking a seat on a bench at Stratford station.
At the time of his death, Mr. Mitchell was residing in Hanwell, west London, but he was originally from Edinburgh. He had been documented as homeless in 2017 and 2019.
Ms. Mann remarked, “Our thoughts remain with Mr. Mitchell’s family and friends. We are dedicated to learning from this heartbreaking incident and assisted the coroner throughout the inquest.”
