'Unanswered questions' over teen rail crossing death

Questions remain over the death of a teenager who was struck and killed by a train on a pedestrian railway crossing, a coroner has concluded.

Harry Basham, 17, was hit by the train in Taunton, Somerset, as he walked to work at about 07:00 BST on 24 October 2025.

Recording a narrative verdict, Somerset senior coroner Samantha Marsh said that "despite a full and thorough examination of the evidence" it remained unclear how the "tragic incident" happened.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with Harry's family and friends and the local community following the tragic accident at the 5/13 railway crossing."

"We will continue our engagement with local authorities, stakeholders and the community on the future of the crossing," they added.

The coroner's court heard the crossing had no lighting or CCTV and more than 200 trains a day passed through the "busy section".

Evidence from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found the site was compliant with safety standards.

The sight lines were described as "just" meeting minimum requirements, by the family's representative in court.

Previously, Harry's mum, Leanne Golding, told the BBC she wanted to see urgent changes at the site saying "lighting needs to be in place, a traffic light system and gates that lock".

A petition set up by a family friend calling for safety improvements at the crossing has close to 4,000 signatures.

Giving evidence and representing British Transport Police (BTP), Det Con Stephen Gadd told the inquest there were "no suspicious circumstances" related to Harry's death.

"In my view, this has been a tragic accident," he added.

Gadd said it was "reasonable to suggest" Basham may have been holding his phone, but there was "no tangible evidence" he was actually wearing earbuds and listening to music at the time. A pair of earbuds were found nearby.

The inquest also heard evidence from the driver of the CrossCountry train, who said she saw Harry standing on the track with his back to her, moments before the collision at 06:54 GMT.

The coroner said it was "entirely plausible" when taking into account the earbuds that were found on the track and the statement from the train driver that Harry was listening to something to "block out the noise" of the approaching train.

"A reasonable inference is that he intended to be struck by it but did not wish to see or hear it as it approached him," she added.

"That said, I do not consider a suicide conclusion safe as on my assessment of the evidence because I am not persuaded that there is 'some' evidence but not a sufficient and persuasive wealth of evidence of intention."

Recording her verdict, the coroner said: "We simply, despite a full and thorough examination of the evidence, do not really know how this tragic incident came to pass on the 24th October 2025."

The inquest heard Harry had left his home for work at about 06:35 BST on 24 October 2025 and walked towards the foot crossing he had used regularly for about seven months.

Evidence from the train driver said it was dark, and she was able to see about 10m (about 33ft) ahead.

The driver said she spotted Harry moments before the collision at 06:54 BST, standing still with his back to the train.

Despite sounding the horn and applying the emergency brake, the coroner said there was "nothing more" the driver could have done to prevent a collision.

Marsh said it was clear Harry had "touched many lives", noting the number of friends who attended the inquest.

Correction 27 May: This article originally reported that the coroner concluded that Harry Basham's death was an accident. This is inaccurate because Somerset senior coroner Samantha Marsh recorded a narrative verdict, in which she explained that "We simply, despite a full and thorough examination of the evidence, do not really know how this tragic incident came to pass on the 24th October 2025."

The article also quoted the coroner as saying that there was no evidence that Harry Basham intended to harm himself. This is also inaccurate because the coroner made no such comment and instead described it as "entirely plausible" that when taking into account the earbuds that were found on the track and the statement from the train driver, Harry was listening to something to "block out the noise" of the approaching train.

We have amended our article to correctly report the coroner's finding of a narrative verdict, because she was not persuaded that Accident or Suicide were safe conclusions, and to include these additional details.

We apologise to Somerset senior coroner Samantha Marsh for these errors.

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