A teenager died after taking pills containing a psychoactive substance and falling onto a live rail line, an inquest has heard.

George Buckley stumbled onto the tracks and was hit by a train at Swanscombe station on Sunday, September 8.

The body of the 15-year-old, of Park Close, Gravesend, was found underneath a train which had come to a stop.

At the inquest into the Northfleet Technology College pupil's death at Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone, today it was confirmed he died from electrocution.

The coroner heard how George and friends had been "experimenting" with illicit substances in the weeks leading up to his death.

Giving evidence at the hearing, British Transport Police spokesman Christina Butler said the force had obtained mobile phone records from witnesses.

"They showed he had been experimenting with illicit drugs in the past few weeks," she said.

"A witness advised that he tried to tell George not to take the tablet."

The school pupil was found with traces of the pills – which he believed to be Xanax –in his back pocket. The Coroner's report confirmed fatal levels of alprazolam in his system.

Alprazolam is sold under the trade name Xanax, an anxiety medication often used as a recreational drug.

His friends said he had ingested the drug in Broomfield Park. Common side effects are drowsiness, tiredness and dizziness.

CCTV images captured of the boy's last movements showed him and friends in the nearby Co-op in Swanscombe High Street shortly after 7pm.

She added: "He then realised it was getting late and headed home as his mum was expecting him."

Witnesses then say George walked with a friend to Swanscombe station where they waited for a train at platform 2.

Additional footage from the track showed his friend checking the timetable before "playfully ruffling" his hair and leaving him on the bench.

A review of the station's CCTV then showed George get up "unsteadily on his feet" and look across the track before falling forward onto the rail.

He sustained fatal burns and laid motionless until he was struck by an oncoming train travelling at 30mph, 18 minutes later.

The inquest heard the driver had not seen the teenager on his initial approach and that by the time he had "applied an emergency break it was too late".

Officers and paramedics were called to the scene following reports someone had been hit at 7.52pm that evening.

The coroner delivered a narrative verdict, stating: "George took a tablet which had caused him to be drowsy and which affected his coordination.

"As a result, he fell from the platform falling onto a live rail and was electrocuted. May I express my sympathies to the family."

The aspiring electrician's family spoke out about their 'heartbreaking loss' following his tragic death and hope lessons can be learnt to prevent repeat cases.

A statement read: “George was a typical teenage boy who was football mad and always had been since he was a baby; obsessed with his Xbox and up till God knows what time.

"He was such a popular boy and was loved by everyone who met him.

“This tragic accident has caused us to lose our baby boy and we are all devastated.

"We can’t imagine life without him and we will miss him forever, he’ll always be in our hearts and will never be forgotten.

“Sleep tight and find your thumb my baby boy.”

Tributes were paid to the pupil from his school and flowers and candles were laid at the train station.

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