Police have confirmed that a man who was killed after being hit by a train at Leeds Station was a University student.

Emergency services attended the scene following reports that a person had fallen onto the track at around 3pm on Saturday.

British Transport Police told The Gryphon that the 19-year-old man was a student at Leeds.

Officers were called to the station ‘immediately’ and gained access to the track. However, they were unable to assist the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was hit by the 14.56 train to Skipton, which was departing from Leeds at the time of the incident.

A statement from British Transport Police said, ‘Our officers were called to the rail line at Kirkstall Viaduct, Leeds, just after 3pm on Saturday, 11th October, following reports that a person had been struck by a train.

‘Colleagues from Yorkshire Ambulance Service and West Yorkshire Police also attended, and a 19-year-old man, from Leeds, was pronounced dead at the scene’.

The man’s death is not being treated as suspicious.

The train line reopened at around 4.30pm, although the incident caused delays between Leeds and Shipley and Ilkley into the evening.
Witness accounts report the station was brought to a ‘standstill’.

Speaking to this newspaper, Vanessa O’Sullivan, who was at Leeds Station at the time of incident, explained, ‘When the tannoy announced that someone had been hit near Leeds, it was all a bit of a shock really. But I think the station dealt with the situation well and kept people calm’.

One passenger tweeted, ‘Someone’s been hit by a train in Leeds, the station is literally at a standstill’.

The University’s Police Liaison Officer PC Matt Guy said, ‘Incredibly sad news. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends’.
A report on the man’s death has been prepared for the coroner. His family has been informed.

A University spokesperson said, ‘We can confirm that one of our students was involved in this incident, and our thoughts are with his family. We will be offering all necessary support and advice to any students and staff affected’.

Charlotte Mason
Greg Whitaker