A STUDENT who took his life by lying in front of a train was attacked the night before his death, an inquest has heard.

Blackburn College student Adrian Hoffmann died instantly when he was hit by a train at Low Moor level crossing in Clitheroe on the morning of April 12.

Recording a suicide verdict on the 20-year-old, who was born in Poland, coroner James Newman said the attack in Accrington would have been on Mr Hoffman’s mind at the time of his death.

A witness statement from Samuel Pearson Moore said he was among a group which entered McDonald’s on April 11 at around 10pm. Mr Hoffman was there and left at around 10.20pm.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Pearson said he boarded a bus alone and saw Mr Hoffman being chased down the road by two people who had earlier been in McDonald’s.

Mr Hoffman jumped onto the bus as it pulled into a stop and his attackers followed and assaulted him. They then got off the bus and ran away. The inquest was not told the names of the alleged attackers.

Mr Hoffman arrived home in Central Avenue, Clitheroe, at around midnight and left the house before 7am the next day. A short time later he was hit by the train.

The Bolton News:

Police at the level crossing in Clitheroe where Adrian was killed by a train in April.

British Transport Police Constable Nassim Ait-Boudaoud, who attended the scene, said despite the attack the night before, police were satisfied that nobody else was involved with his death.

He said: “No action could have been taken to prevent the death of Adrian.

“There was no suggestion of intent found and nothing has been found on his phone to explain what happened.”

Mr Hoffman was said to have had a normal upbringing and was passionate about football and running.

He was a good student with ambitions to become a police officer but had recently broken up with his girlfriend and had been left ‘devastated’ by the ending of his relationship.

The inquest also heard that he had been bullied as a teenager when he attended St Augustine’s High School in Billington and that a pupil was excluded as a result of the bullying.

His mother, Monika Hoffmann, said she knew of no reason he would want to kill himself and that he had been his usual self in the days running up to his death.

She also said how her ‘kind and cheerful’ son was always willing to help her out, taking on a summer job when he could to contribute towards household bills.

She said: “He was the most important person in my life.

“My other son is the only thing that has kept me alive. Nobody can ever bring Adrian back to me.”

Mr Newman said, on the balance of probabilities, Mr Hoffman had intended to kill himself.

He said: “I am aware that on April 11, Adrian was the victim of an assault which I believe would have been weighing heavily on his mind the following morning.

“On April 12, he left his home early and I find, on the evidence and on the balance of probabilities, Adrian has made his way to the crossing in Clitheroe and shortly after 7am he stood up and walked into the path of an oncoming train before laying down on the tracks.

“Evidence from the train driver and how he was found suggests he made no intention to move away from the tracks.

“He suffered catastrophic injuries and I conclude he died as a result of multiple injuries.

“I can’t, however, say why he chose to do what he did.”

Pathologist Dr Mark Sissons said: “He would not have suffered in his death.”