A YOUNG man killed by a train at Christchurch railway station is believed to have jumped from the platform.

Jake Hirst, who lived in Pauntley Road, Mudeford, died on Friday, February 20, after being struck by a fast train that was not scheduled to stop at the station.

He was just 23 years old.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned at Bournemouth Coroners’ Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Coroner’s officer Andrew Lord said Mr Hirst was identified by a “distinctive” tattoo and personal belongings.

“Mr Hirst was seen to jump from the platform directly into the path of an oncoming train, which was not scheduled to stop,” he said.

“An apparent suicide note was found among his belongings at the scene.”

The emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 10am following reports that a person had been struck by a train.

Officers from Dorset Police and British Transport Police and paramedics from South Western Ambulance attended.

However, sadly Mr Hirst was pronounced dead on their arrival.

The cause of his death has been given as multiple injuries caused by blunt trauma.

Train services across the area were affected, with South West Trains from London Waterloo, Weymouth and Poole stopping at Southampton Central and Bournemouth until the afternoon.

A spokesperson from the South West Trains-Network Rail Allowance said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the person involved.”

A full inquest is due to take place in August this year.