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Train death man's 'luck ran out'
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| David Davies with his three-year-old son Daniel |
HIS sister said David Davies "carried luck in his pocket".
But his family are in mourning this week after Mr Davies slipped and fell under a train while trying to retrieve a toy car for his son.
Mr Davies, 38, a printing company account manager from Fairlawn Avenue, Bexleyheath, had fallen asleep on the Charing Cross to Dartford train, on May 9, after leaving work early to babysit his son Daniel, three.
He missed his station at Bexleyheath and woke up at Barnehurst, at about 5pm, where he got off the train, leaving behind the toy and flowers for his wife.
Nicola Carey, 24, a teacher at Erith School, in Avenue Road, Erith, was one of around six
people on the platform, who witnessed what happened next.
Mr Davies had been starting up the footbridge, when he turned back onto the platform.
Miss Carey said: "I was waiting for the next train, when he caught my eye. He was very agitated."
She continued: "He was running alongside the train, frantically bashing on the door, trying to get it to open.
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| Mr Davies with his wife Shelley |
"Then he leapt off the platform between two of the carriages.
"It was a complete shock when he jumped. I could not believe it.
"I think he was trying to surf the train to the next station."
Mr Davies was unable to gain a foothold and fell.
Miss Carey said the train continued out of the station.
She added: "I don't think the driver knew.
"It took a while for people to realise what had happened.
"Someone who was a qualified first aider went to check whether he was still alive and someone else ran across the footbridge to get the only member of staff."
Police were called and the platform was cleared.
His devastated parents, Tom and Kathy Davies, said their son had been trying to retrieve a black toy Smart car he had bought at Hamleys that day for his son.
Mr Davies' mother said: "Daniel called it a daddy car'.
"He had a toy green one, but he wanted a black one like his daddy's car.
"David had taken months to hunt one down and found one at Hamleys."
She added: "He had phoned Daniel at about 4pm and told him he was bringing the car home. He did not want to break his promise.
"If it had been just the flowers, he would have bought another bunch."
She said: "He was obviously not quite with it after waking up.
"He often fell asleep on the train."
Mrs Davies added: "He misjudged it and slipped straight away. Silly boy."
Mrs Davies said her son's wife, Shelley, 39, was "in pieces".
She described her husband as "my best friend and the love of my life".
His mother said: "Shelley knew something was wrong.
"She phoned David several times and he did not answer. The last time she called, his phone was switched off.
"The police knocked on the door at 8.45pm.
"They stopped the train at Dartford and the car and flowers were still there."
A former Dartford Grammar School pupil, Mr Davies shunned university and instead wrote hundreds of letters trying to get into the advertising business.
Mrs Davies said: "He was very bright and was constantly headhunted."
It was through his work he met his wife.
A huge Charlton fan, Mrs Davies said her son had done a lot of work with the club and went to matches with his former schoolmates.
His downstairs loo was a "shrine" to Charlton and plastered with memorabilia.
Mrs Davies added: "He was the life and soul, with a razor sharp wit."
She said his sisters Nicola, 35 and Lyndsey, 29, doted on their older brother.
Mrs Davies's father said: "We will never get over David's death, but we will have to live with it.
"He had the luck of the devil, but it ran out that Friday."
If you knew Mr Davies and would like to post a tribute or message of condolence click here
11:51am Wednesday 21st May 2008
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