Jury finds missed opportunities to save teenager on rail line

Content warning: This story describes a tragic event that may be distressing.

A 15-year-old girl lost her life after being electrocuted on a railway line, with an inquest jury concluding that police and railway authorities missed chances to prevent the fatality. Roxy Phillips fell onto a live rail in Weymouth, Dorset, while walking home with a friend in March 2023.

Shortly after the incident, a member of the public reported trespassers on the track, prompting the electricity to be switched off. However, the jury questioned the actions of Dorset Police, British Transport Police, and Network Rail, suggesting their decisions may have indirectly contributed to her death once power was restored.

The inquest revealed that just before 01:00 GMT on 23 March, a 999 call reported two people walking on the railway near Weymouth station. Dorset Police attended but did not access the tracks and reported seeing no one, taking no further action. Less than 30 minutes later, power was restored, and around 24 minutes after that, Roxys friend called emergency services to report her fall. The location was near Redlands Sports Centre, roughly 3 km from Weymouth station and about 0.75 km from her home in Broadwey, along the line connecting Weymouth with Upwey.

The jury recorded a conclusion of misadventure, noting that alcohol was likely a factor in the incident. They also cited possible influences from the handling of the situation by police and emergency services. Criticisms included Dorset Polices failure to document reports about the trespassers vulnerability, incomplete communication with other authorities, and lack of senior-level review after the track was re-energized.

British Transport Police faced scrutiny over what the jury described as a lack of command and control and insufficient investigation into the search efforts. The force also did not document Dorset Polices request to attend the scene. Network Rail was questioned on the adequacy of its inquiries regarding both the trespassers and the extent of the police search.

The jury concluded: Roxy died as a result of consuming alcohol and trespassing on an electrified line. There were missed opportunities by Dorset Police, British Transport Police, and Network Rail to locate Roxy or confirm that she was no longer on the tracks before restoring power.

The teenager had recently been excluded from school and was due in court the day before her death on charges of assaulting paramedics and police. Previous reports indicated that child care authorities had missed opportunities to intervene in her life.

Family and friends described Roxy as a bright and vibrant young girl, passionate about animals and full of life.

If you are affected by any issues raised in this story, support is available through local helplines.

Author: Caleb Jennings