Three deaths in three months on railway line

THREE people were killed on railway lines near Carmarthen in separate incidents spanning just three months, inquests have heard.

The first tragedy occurred on August 22 last year when David Shearan was struck on the line at Ferryside after getting lost.

A jury at Llanelli Coroners Court heard Mr Shearan, aged 69, had been on holiday with his niece Tammy Garwood and her husband Lee at the Carmarthen Bay holiday park.

A keen walker, Mr Shearan is thought to have become lost after heading off to the lanes near Ferryside shortly after 5pm. His body was later recovered close to a transistor radio.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, after hearing post mortem evidence which said Mr Shearan, who lived in Beddau, died of multiple injuries.

The same jury also heard that on October 2, former Pencader Primary School teacher Meryl Jenkins, from Cwmffrwd, was killed by a train at St Ishmael's Crossing between Kidwelly and Ferryside.

The jury heard Mrs Jenkins had been diagnosed with inner-ear condition Labrynthitis and depression, and was seeing a psychiatrist.

Her husband, David, who worked in a bank in Cardigan, said he had spoken to his wife several times that day but had no idea of his wife's intentions, however a suicide note was found later explaining that she intended to kill herself on the railway line.

The jury returned a verdict that she took her own life while suffering from a psychiatric illness.

The final tragedy occurred on November 30, when a 25-year-old design engineer Emrys Davies was killed on the line near Burry Port at 9.05pm.

Mr Davies's employers, Carmarthen-based Intec, had asked him to redesign a water treatment works very close to the point where he was found.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

daniel.fisher@swwmedia.co.uk