Inquest Hears Man Deliberately Stepped in Front of Train Near Starcross

A 47-year-old man died after stepping in front of a train near Starcross, an inquest has heard.

David Orrell, an Exeter-born computer software engineer living in Hampton View, Bath, travelled to the railway at Powderham shortly after being released on bail following his arrest at the Shambala music festival in Northamptonshire in August 2023. He had denied the offences for which he had been detained.

Two days after his arrest, Mr Orrell deliberately entered the path of a train travelling at 75mph. A suicide note was later discovered in a rucksack at the scene. In it, he wrote that he suffered mental torment through self-imposed isolation and asked for money to be donated to mental health services.

Exeter Coroners Court was told that safeguarding measures had been put in place following his arrest and that there was no identified risk of self-harm at the time of his release. An investigation by Northamptonshire Police found no misconduct by officers or staff in relation to his arrest, detention or release. The police watchdog was informed but took no further action.

The inquest also heard from the train driver, who described seeing Mr Orrell walk onto the track, face the approaching train and squat down while covering his eyes in the moments before impact. He died from multiple injuries.

Senior Devon coroner Philip Spinney concluded that Mr Orrell had deliberately stood in the path of the oncoming train and recorded a verdict of suicide.

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