Catherine Boys from New Milton died after being struck by train, inquest hears
A NEW Milton woman died after walking into the path of an oncoming train at the town’s railway station, an inquest heard.
Catherine Boys (59), of Park Road, had been suffering with anxiety and depression for many years, which coroner Jason Pegg ruled was a contributing factor in her death.
The hearing at Winchester Coroner’s Court heard Catherine died on the New Milton railway just before 10pm on 10th September last year.
A statement from train driver Samuel Blundell, which was read to the court, explained he had been travelling from London Waterloo to Weymouth when he noticed a person come out of the trees and walk along the line.
He applied the emergency brakes, but the collision was unavoidable, the court heard.
A statement from Ms Boys’ GP said she had been suffering with mixed anxiety and depression since 1998, thought to have been caused by an earlier road traffic accident.
In August of last year she told her GP she had been suffering with “dark thoughts”, but had no intention of harming herself and was assessed as being low risk.
The inquest heard a statement from friend Stephanie Nash, who said Ms Boys, a horse lover, had a large circle of friends and enjoyed going to festivals.
The pair had met for a walk earlier that evening, with Ms Boys described as “happy” and the friends chatted as normal.
She added: “At no time did she give any indication that anything was wrong.”
Her cause of death was given by pathologist Dr Vidhi Bhargava as multiple injuries.
Coroner Jason Pegg, who recorded a conclusion of suicide, said it was “clear” she had suffered with depression and anxiety for “many years”.
