Tragic schoolboy, 11, was ‘distracted’ by video on his telephone when he was hit by a prepare on stage crossing

A ‘distracted’ schoolboy was watching a video on his phone when he wandered onto a level crossing and was struck by a train.

Jaiden Shehata, 11, had been walking to school when the tragic accident took place at around 8.03am on January 23 near Kenley, south London.

He was hit and killed by a train at the Bourneview footpath travelling at around 50mph, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said.

After seeing Jaiden start to cross the railway, the driver sounded the horn and applied the emergency brake.

The schoolboy looked up in response but did not have time to move clear before the train reached the crossing.

Jaiden suffered fatal injuries after being hit by the train, which stopped about 207 metres beyond the crossing.

The RAIB said the accident happened because he did not perceive the risk associated with the train, probably because he was ‘distracted’ by his phone.

Investigators said CCTV footage shows Jaiden walking towards the crossing, looking ahead and down at a ‘glowing object’ almost certain to be the illuminated screen of a phone in his hands, with his coat hood pulled over his head.

Jaiden Shehata (pictured) had been walking to school when the tragic accident took place at around 8.03am on January 23 near Kenley, south London

In a heartbreaking tribute uploaded to Instagram, Joseph Shehata said: ‘I miss you every single day. Life isn’t the same without you. And it never will be’

Analysis of his phone suggests a video clip was playing at the time of the accident.

Jaiden was a pupil at the nearby Riddlesdown Collegiate secondary school who previously described him as ‘kind and popular’ in a statement.

The RAIB said he had regularly used the crossing as his route to and from school since starting there the previous September.

The site does not have warning lights or barriers, which the RAIB said is ‘in common with many footpath crossings’.

Users are expected to stop, look and listen for approaching trains, and ‘make their own decision about whether or not it is safe to cross’, investigators said.

Network Rail’s most recent risk assessment of the location in May 2023 documented six near misses between November 30 2018 and February 9 2023.

There was one fatality in March 2020, which was recorded as a deliberate act.

The RAIB recommended curriculum setters for UK schools work with railway infrastructure managers to introduce ‘targeted and locally relevant railway safety lessons to pupils of all ages’.

Jaiden suffered fatal injuries after being hit by the train, which stopped about 207 metres beyond the crossing

It also made two recommendations for Network Rail, in partnership with industry body the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB).

The first was to make the dangerous area at level crossings more noticeable – particularly to people whose attention may be distracted – and the second was to consider whether different approaches to ‘risk mitigation’ at the sites are needed for younger users.

An RSSB spokesman said: ‘We extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and all those affected by the tragic death of Jaiden Shehata.

‘We welcome publication of the RAIB investigation.

‘Ensuring safety at level crossings remains a key priority for RSSB and the rail industry, and we will be working collaboratively to consider and implement the RAIB’s recommendations.’

Network Rail was approached for a comment.