Trains from Hastings to Tonbridge unable to run after man dies on railway tracks
A man died on the railway tracks after becoming ill on Friday (May 15), the ambulance service said.
Emergency services were called to the scene near Etchingham. British Transport Police said it received reports of a person 'suffering from a cardiac arrest'.
A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance Service said the man who died was believed to be a worker on the tracks.
They added: “South East Coast Ambulance Service was called to reports of a person in need of medical attention on the railway tracks in the Hurst Green area at approximately 8.15am on May 15.
“Ambulance crews, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and the Air Ambulance Charity, Kent, Surrey, Sussex attended and one patient was treated at the scene. Sadly, despite the best efforts of all those involved, the patient was declared deceased at the scene.”
A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: “We were called to an area of the line in Hurst Green at around 8.20am on May 15 to reports of a person suffering a cardiac arrest.
“Paramedics also attended, however, sadly, a man was pronounced dead. This incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Trains between Hastings and Tonbridge were unable to run due to the incident, Southeastern said. It added that the incident happened between Robertsbridge and Etchingham.
National Rail said replacement buses were used to ferry passengers between Hastings and Tonbridge, with train services returning to normal by the afternoon.