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Man's death rescuing brother from tube track an accident Man's death rescuing brother from tube track an accident
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The death of a man fatally struck by a London Underground train as he tried to rescue his brother from the track was an accident, a coroner has ruled. The death of a man fatally struck by a tube train as he tried to rescue his brother from the track was an accident, a coroner in London has ruled.
Nicholas Mann, 35, was travelling back from a heavy metal gig just after midnight with his brother Robert, 32, in March, when he was hit by a southbound Northern line train and suffered a massive head injury at Old Street station.Nicholas Mann, 35, was travelling back from a heavy metal gig just after midnight with his brother Robert, 32, in March, when he was hit by a southbound Northern line train and suffered a massive head injury at Old Street station.
A jury at St Pancras coroners court recorded the death as an accident after direction from the coroner, Mary Hassell. A jury at St Pancras coroners court recorded the death as an accident after direction from the coroner Mary Hassell.
Nicholas Mann, who lived with his wife, Jennifer Kavanagh, in Wimbledon, received first aid from off-duty paramedics and a doctor after being struck at approximately 12.20am on 29 March. Mann, who lived with his wife, Jennifer Kavanagh, in Wimbledon, south London, received first aid from off-duty paramedics and a doctor after being struck at approximately 12.20am on 29 March.
The train’s driver, Paul Johnson, told the court: “I went round the corner approaching the platform and I saw a male stumble and fall on to the track just in front of me. I Immediately pushed the emergency brake. When he fell another gentleman was trying to pull him out. The train was braking when it hit both of them.”The train’s driver, Paul Johnson, told the court: “I went round the corner approaching the platform and I saw a male stumble and fall on to the track just in front of me. I Immediately pushed the emergency brake. When he fell another gentleman was trying to pull him out. The train was braking when it hit both of them.”
Referring to Robert Mann, on the tracks, the driver said: “The gentleman had his back to me standing. The other gentleman was trying to pull him out. It looked definitely like an accident.”Referring to Robert Mann, on the tracks, the driver said: “The gentleman had his back to me standing. The other gentleman was trying to pull him out. It looked definitely like an accident.”
Johnson, who has been a train driver for 21 years, said the train was travelling at “around 30mph” when it approached the platform.Johnson, who has been a train driver for 21 years, said the train was travelling at “around 30mph” when it approached the platform.
Nicholas Mann had spent the Saturday with his brother Robert watching Shrewsbury Town beat Portsmouth away from home before going to the gig in London. Their mother, Pauline Mann, who along with the rest of the family decided not to attend the inquest, called it a “perfect day”. Nicholas and Robert Mann had spent the Saturday watching Shrewsbury Town beat Portsmouth away from home before going to the gig in London. Their mother, Pauline Mann, who along with the rest of the family decided not to attend the inquest, called it a “perfect day”.
In a written statement issued to the court, she said: “Nick and his brother had been close as children and that relationship followed into adulthood. They texted each other many times a day and the last day of Nick’s life they spent together. I will always miss my darling son. It was the perfect day. It involved football, a gig, and chips and beer.” In a statement issued to the court, she said: “Nick and his brother had been close as children and that relationship followed into adulthood. They texted each other many times a day and the last day of Nick’s life they spent together. I will always miss my darling son. It was the perfect day. It involved football, a gig, and chips and beer.”
A short CCTV video played in court showed Mann and his brother Robert walk on to the platform. The pair are walking close to the edge of the track when Robert Mann raises his arms in the air before stumbling and falling in front of the oncoming train. Nicholas Mann is seen lying on the platform trying to help his brother up as the train hits them. A short CCTV video played in court showed the brothers walk on to the platform. The pair are walking close to the edge of the track when Robert Mann raises his arms in the air before stumbling and falling in front of the oncoming train. His brother is seen lying on the platform trying to help him up as the train hits them.
Some of the jurors gasped and appeared shaken as the video showed Nicholas Mann being struck. Matthew Pabon, who witnessed the train hitting Nicholas Mann and his brother, said it all happened “really fast”. Some of the jurors gasped and appeared shaken as the video showed Nicholas Mann being struck. Matthew Pabon, who witnessed the train hitting the brothers, said it all happened “really fast”.
He said: “They were walking really close to the edge of the platform. They were quite cheerful. They were jumping and celebrating, very cheerful.” Pabon said: “They were walking really close to the edge of the platform. They were quite cheerful. They were jumping and celebrating, very cheerful.”
He added: “One of them slipped, the other person was trying to pull him out. It was really really fast. The train was approaching really really fast. I turned around and heard a bang.”He added: “One of them slipped, the other person was trying to pull him out. It was really really fast. The train was approaching really really fast. I turned around and heard a bang.”
Peter Darling, a HM inspector for the office of rail and road investigations, told the court he had found “no breach of health and safety” and called the death a “tragic accident”.Peter Darling, a HM inspector for the office of rail and road investigations, told the court he had found “no breach of health and safety” and called the death a “tragic accident”.
Nicholas Mann, a senior press officer and heavy metal enthusiast, married his wife in 2011. The couple had tickets to travel to Greece and Japan after previous extensive travelling trips to Iceland. Nicholas Mann, a senior press officer and heavy metal enthusiast, married his wife in 2011. The couple had tickets to travel to Greece and Japan.
Kavanagh, opting not to appear in court, said in a statement that Mann was “a wonderful husband and loyal friend”.Kavanagh, opting not to appear in court, said in a statement that Mann was “a wonderful husband and loyal friend”.
She added: “He was selfless, kind, warm and loving and he put other people first. We had a wonderful decade together ... It’s clear by the tributes from Shrewsbury Town and the fans after his death how much he meant to the club.”She added: “He was selfless, kind, warm and loving and he put other people first. We had a wonderful decade together ... It’s clear by the tributes from Shrewsbury Town and the fans after his death how much he meant to the club.”
It is believed Robert Mann is still recovering from the incident.It is believed Robert Mann is still recovering from the incident.
Summing up, Hassell recorded the death as “accidental”. She thanked Nicholas Mann and his family for the multi-organ donation made after his death, which she said was “an incredibly kind gesture”. Summing up, Hassell recorded the death as accidental. She thanked Nicholas Mann and his family for the multiorgan donation made after his death, which she said was an incredibly kind gesture.