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Widower killed by train trying to save woman hailed as 'heroic and selfless' Widower killed by train trying to save woman hailed as 'heroic and selfless'
(34 minutes later)
The family of a woman who survived being hit by a train have paid tribute to the man killed attempting to save her. The family of a woman who survived being hit by a train have paid tribute to a man who died attempting to save her.
David Ashworth, 74, died instantly when he was struck by a train while trying to move Ella Akehurst, 38, off the tracks near Chartham railway station in Kent on Tuesday morning. David Ashworth, 74, died instantly when he was struck by the train while trying to move Ella Akehurst, 38, off the tracks near Chartham railway station in Kent on Tuesday morning.
Akehurst was hit but survived and was airlifted to hospital where she was described as being in a serious but stable condition. Her family have now hailed Ashworth as a “kind, caring and totally selfless person”. Akehurst was hit but survived and was airlifted to hospital where she was in a serious but stable condition.
Her brother Luke, a prominent Labour party campaigner, wrote on Facebook: “I wanted to pay tribute to Dr David Ashworth, much loved friend of my family for many decades, who died yesterday rescuing my sister Ella from the railway line in our home village of Chartham. He was a truly heroic and selfless man and a wonderful friend to my mum and dad. We are thinking of his family and their loss.” Her brother Luke, a prominent Labour party campaigner, wrote on Facebook: “I wanted to pay tribute to Dr David Ashworth, much-loved friend of my family for many decades, who died yesterday rescuing my sister Ella from the railway line in our home village of Chartham. He was a truly heroic and selfless man and a wonderful friend to my mum and dad. We are thinking of his family and their loss.”
Ashworth, a widower, was a father of two and retired space scientist who had previously worked on projects for Nasa. It is understood he had spent the morning of the accident with Akehurst, who had been unwell and was staying with her parents in Chartham. Ashworth – a close family friend – was looking after her when she left the house unannounced. Ashworth, a widower and father of two, was a retired space scientist who had worked on projects for Nasa. It is understood he spent the morning of the accident with Akehurst, who had been unwell and was staying with her parents in Chartham. Ashworth, a close family friend, was looking after her when she left the house unannounced.
Witnesses said Ashworth was in his car at the level crossing when he saw Akehurst jump on to the tracks and rushed to her aid. The train driver sounded the horn and applied the brakes but could not have done anything to avoid hitting them. Witnesses said Ashworth was in his car at a level crossing when he saw Akehurst jump on to the tracks and rushed to her aid. The train driver sounded the horn and applied the brakes but could not do anything to avoid hitting them.
Ashworth’s relatives said they were “devastated” but also hailed his heroism. They said in a statement: “We are very proud of our father’s actions in saving the life of a young lady and clearly devastated at the loss of his life in doing so. Our thoughts are with the young lady, her family, and the train driver and we would like to add that we request privacy at this difficult time.” Ashworth’s relatives said they were devastated but also praised his heroism. They said in a statement: “We are very proud of our father’s actions in saving the life of a young lady and clearly devastated at the loss of his life in doing so. Our thoughts are with the young lady, her family and the train driver, and we would like to add that we request privacy at this difficult time.”
Michael Kember, 44, who was at the scene, told the Kent Messenger: “The lady had been on the bridge over the line and then jumped off it, landing right between the rails where she was lying parallel between them. The man then jumped down and was trying to get her off. While he was doing that you could hear the electric rail buzzing, meaning that the train was coming.Michael Kember, 44, who was at the scene, told the Kent Messenger: “The lady had been on the bridge over the line and then jumped off it, landing right between the rails where she was lying parallel between them. The man then jumped down and was trying to get her off. While he was doing that you could hear the electric rail buzzing, meaning that the train was coming.
“You could hear the driver was sounding the horn and the brakes of the train were squealing. The man couldn’t get her off and he was then trying to get to the end of the platform but did not make it, and that was when the accident happened. The bloke was a hero.”“You could hear the driver was sounding the horn and the brakes of the train were squealing. The man couldn’t get her off and he was then trying to get to the end of the platform but did not make it, and that was when the accident happened. The bloke was a hero.”
A British transport police spokesman said the incident was not being treated as suspicious. “Shortly before 10.55am on Tuesday, 16 June, our officers were called to the line near to Chartham rail station following reports of a person having been struck by a train,” he said. A British transport police spokesman said the incident was not being treated as suspicious. “Shortly before 10.55am on Tuesday 16 June, our officers were called to the line near to Chartham rail station following reports of a person having been struck by a train,” he said.
“BTP officers attended, alongside colleagues from Kent police and South East Coast Ambulance Service, and discovered two people – a man in his 70s and a woman in her 30s – had been struck by a train. Sadly, the man died as a result of his injuries. The woman was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, where she remains in a serious but stable condition. “BTP officers attended, alongside colleagues from Kent police and South East Coast ambulance service, and discovered two people – a man in his 70s and a woman in her 30s – had been struck by a train. Sadly, the man died as a result of his injuries. The woman was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, where she remains in a serious but stable condition.
“Both families have been informed. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.”“Both families have been informed. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.”