A young man found dead on the railway tracks at Maidstone East station has today been named as an American airman.

The body of S/Sgt Ryan Austin, 25, was discovered in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mr Austin, from Corbin, Kentucky, is believed to have accidentally electrocuted himself.

A British Transport Police spokesman confirmed his death is thought to have been a tragic accident.

Mr Austin was based at Ramstein air base, in Germany. It is not clear why he was in the town.

An investigation was launched after officers were called to the scene, off Station Road, at about 2.50am on Tuesday.

BTP said the man's injuries were consistent with those caused by coming into contact with a live rail.

South East Coast Ambulance Service crews attended and pronounced the man dead at the scene.