A much-loved fitness enthusiast with a bright future ahead of him was electrocuted on the tracks at Canterbury East after he stumbled onto a live rail following a night out.

William Israel, 23, was trying to take a shortcut to a friend’s house in Wincheap after leaving Club Chemistry, opposite the station.

But instead of using an underpass linking the platforms, he jumped down onto the tracks, tripping on the stone ballast and falling onto the live 750-volt third rail.

He was electrocuted and pronounced dead at the scene.

An assistant coroner has now criticised a lack of signage directing people to the underpass, and questioned why a gate into the station is left open when the facility is unmanned.

Sonia Hayes raised the issues this week at an inquest into the death of Mr Israel, who lost his life in the early hours of March 15.

She described the fatal accident as “a tragedy beyond compare”, adding: “He was a much-loved healthy young man with his life ahead of him.”

Mr Israel, who lived in Hither Green in south London, had earlier that day had a video call with his nephews and asked if dinner could be kept for him upon his intended return to the capital the next day.

He travelled to Canterbury and met with friends before going to Club Chemistry, off the city’s ring-road in Station Road East.

When he left shortly before 4am the alcohol in his system was at the level of about twice the drink-drive limit.

After finding his friends and being given a key to a nearby flat, he walked across the road and entered Canterbury East via the unlocked entry gate, which is open between 10pm and 6am when the station ticket office is not manned.

CCTV footage showed him jumping down onto the tracks before he stumbled on the stones and fell onto the active third rail - a line which remains switched on even if trains are not running.

He was found by friends, who alerted emergency services.

Having heard evidence from BTP and Southeastern, Ms Hayes said she was “not satisfied” sufficient risk assessments had been carried out at the station since Mr Israel’s death.

Therefore, she has used her powers to issue a Regulation 28 order in an effort to prevent future deaths and ensure assessments are carried out.

Ms Hayes raised concerns over a lack of signage directing people to the underpass, and the fact access to the platforms is permitted throughout the night via the pedestrian gate.

“There was no signage to point him in the direction of the underpass. This is a simple matter that could have been remedied and has not been... it’s a significant absence,” she said.

“I am troubled by the nightclub being so near to the station - there is a significant risk of people perhaps making judgements that they may not do when sober.

“I am troubled that opening the gate when the station is not manned leads to a greater risk of people trespassing and going onto the track.”

Fit and healthy Mr Israel was aiming to start his own personal training business before his life was tragically cut short in March.

A statement from the family read out at court remembered the 23-year-old as a “loving, hard-working son, caring brother who was very dear to all other family members”.

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