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| Train death cricketer Tom Maynard was 'high on drugs' | Train death cricketer Tom Maynard was 'high on drugs' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Cricketer Tom Maynard was electrocuted on a railway line before being struck by a train as he tried to evade police after driving while drunk and high on drugs, an inquest has heard. | |
| The 23-year-old Cardiff-born batsman was found near Wimbledon Park station shortly after 05:00 BST on 18 June. | The 23-year-old Cardiff-born batsman was found near Wimbledon Park station shortly after 05:00 BST on 18 June. |
| He had earlier been stopped by police after he was seen driving his black Mercedes erratically. | He had earlier been stopped by police after he was seen driving his black Mercedes erratically. |
| But the Surrey player fled, leaving his keys in the ignition. | But the Surrey player fled, leaving his keys in the ignition. |
| A post-mortem examination showed he was nearly four times the legal alcohol limit to drive and had also taken cocaine and ecstasy in the form of MDMA after a night out with his two flatmates in Wandsworth, south London. | A post-mortem examination showed he was nearly four times the legal alcohol limit to drive and had also taken cocaine and ecstasy in the form of MDMA after a night out with his two flatmates in Wandsworth, south London. |
| Tests on hair samples indicated Mr Maynard, who had previously played for Glamorgan and was tipped as a future England international, may have been a regular drug user up to three-and-a-half months before his death, Westminster Coroner's Court heard. | Tests on hair samples indicated Mr Maynard, who had previously played for Glamorgan and was tipped as a future England international, may have been a regular drug user up to three-and-a-half months before his death, Westminster Coroner's Court heard. |
| Forensic pathologist Dr Simon Poole told the inquest jury Mr Maynard suffered burns to his feet, ankles and shin which were consistent with injuries suffered by skin touching live railway tracks. | Forensic pathologist Dr Simon Poole told the inquest jury Mr Maynard suffered burns to his feet, ankles and shin which were consistent with injuries suffered by skin touching live railway tracks. |
| It was not possible to say, however, whether electrocution or the impact with the train caused Mr Maynard's death, he said. | It was not possible to say, however, whether electrocution or the impact with the train caused Mr Maynard's death, he said. |
| Post-mortem tests indicated high levels of alcohol in his urine, as well as the presence of MDMA, cocaine and the compound cocaethylene, the inquest heard. | Post-mortem tests indicated high levels of alcohol in his urine, as well as the presence of MDMA, cocaine and the compound cocaethylene, the inquest heard. |
| In a statement, Dr Rosa Cordero said analysis showed positive results for the presence of MDMA and cocaine levels which matched some daily users of the drug. | In a statement, Dr Rosa Cordero said analysis showed positive results for the presence of MDMA and cocaine levels which matched some daily users of the drug. |
| 'Needed me' | |
| Mr Maynard's girlfriend Carly Baker told the court he had called her at about 03:30 after he had been out drinking with friends. | |
| "He sounded very down and depressed on the phone," she said. | |
| "For me to say 'what's wrong' is quite unusual. It was like he needed me. He said 'you're the only thing that makes me happy', and he said it three times." | |
| Miss Baker said she urged Mr Maynard not to drive to her home as she suspected he had been drinking. | |
| In a statement, she added: "I tried to persuade him not to come because I was so worried that he was getting into his car after drinking." | |
| PC David Wishart told the inquest that he and his colleague PC Tahla Wallond were travelling in an unmarked police car when they spotted Mr Maynard's black Mercedes driving erratically. | |
| After following the car, it came to a stop and performed a U-turn to face the officers, he said, adding that he got out of his car and ordered Mr Maynard to wait but he ran off and managed to flee the officers. | |
| In a statement, tube driver Martin Hopping said he believed he was approaching "bags of white ballast" before realising a body was lying on the tracks. | |
| He applied the brakes and sounded the the train's horn but struck the body at about 05:00. | |
| Special person | Special person |
| The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into Maynard's death. | The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into Maynard's death. |
| It said pursuing officers lost sight of him after he made off on foot and had no further contact with him. | It said pursuing officers lost sight of him after he made off on foot and had no further contact with him. |
| About 50 minutes passed between the start of the police chase and Mr Maynard being hit by the train. | |
| British Transport Police said the death was treated as "non suspicious". | British Transport Police said the death was treated as "non suspicious". |
| Mr Maynard, the son of former England and Glamorgan batsman Matthew Maynard, earned himself a place on the England Lions tour to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the start of last year. | Mr Maynard, the son of former England and Glamorgan batsman Matthew Maynard, earned himself a place on the England Lions tour to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the start of last year. |
| His family issued a statement on Tuesday, through the Professional Cricketers' Association, which read: "The results of the inquest do not define our son. | His family issued a statement on Tuesday, through the Professional Cricketers' Association, which read: "The results of the inquest do not define our son. |
| "The fact that so very many people thought the world of him is what defines him as a person. | "The fact that so very many people thought the world of him is what defines him as a person. |
| "The only people who would judge Tom on the findings of the inquest are people who didn't know him. He made choices that night that tragically cost him his life but his devastated family and friends will love and miss him unconditionally always. | "The only people who would judge Tom on the findings of the inquest are people who didn't know him. He made choices that night that tragically cost him his life but his devastated family and friends will love and miss him unconditionally always. |
| "He was a very special person and his death leaves a huge hole in all our lives." | "He was a very special person and his death leaves a huge hole in all our lives." |