‘Drunk’ man killed at London station after being electrocuted while sleeping on track

A man died after he touched a live rail at Wimbledon station.

Witnesses said the victim was electrocuted after he tripped and fell back when station staff woke him up from a nap yesterday afternoon.

The victim had appeared to be sleeping on the tracks separating platforms 8 and 9.

A photo showed the man with his feet up on the track, his hands resting on his tummy, and fabric covering his face, shortly before his death.

A witness said he first noticed the ‘extremely drunk’ man after he saw a bunch of people looking one way down the station.

He said: ‘He was clearly extremely drunk – you could tell he didn’t know where he was.

‘He took two steps to the left, one to the right, as he tried to move.’

He added: ‘But he tripped and fell back in between the tracks, and was then electrocuted.

‘He lay there stiff on the ground, twitching at the same time. I saw him start to smoke.

‘We were evacuated straight away. But I haven’t been able to shake the picture of him dying there from my mind.’

British Transport Police confirmed a person was pronounced dead at the scene after officers attended alongside paramedics.

A spokesperson said: ‘The death is not being treated as suspicious.

‘Officers are now working to identify the person and inform their next of kin. A report will also be prepared for the coroner.’

The man was described as being of average height and in his 20s.