'I tried to rescue my boyfriend from rail line'

Juliette Hellier, 18, said her boyfriend, Darren Avis, 22, called her from Bexhill station on his mobile.

She said: "He said he was hurt and wanted my help."

Juliette, a sales assistant, had just left work in Bexhill when Darren's plea came through on her mobile. She met the couple's friend, Stuart Funnell, on the way to the station and asked him to come with her to help Darren.

"When we arrived he was lying on the track. This was a tragic accident.

"A train was leaving the station and my friend and I screamed for the driver to stop. It seemed an eternity.

"The driver checked Darren's body and said Darren was dead. He seemed off-hand."

The tragedy happened on August 13 at 10.47pm after Darren, from London Road had left Walkers Cocktail Bar in Devonshire Square.

Juliette, of Manor Road, said: "Darren loved Walkers. We often went there. I'd known him 10 years. Our parents were friends and I'd gone to school with his brother, Dean.

"Darren was very popular, very lively and chatty and very caring. Everyone loved him. He'd do anything for anyone and loved his family very much.

"We'd been together 18 months and were fine together."

Juliette said she was utterly distraught by Darren's death, but was "carrying on because Darren would hate anyone to mope".