Tragedy on Tube tracks

A tube passenger who went to help a woman whose foot was caught between the tracks died trying to save her.

New Zealander James Dean, 20, was electrocuted by the live rail.

The accident, at Ladbroke Grove station, happened when a group of four passengers attempted to take a short cut across the tracks - rather than take the longer walk via an underpass to the opposite platform.

When one caught her foot in the rails, Mr Dean, who had been on the verge of a career as a motorcycle racer, quickly jumped down to help her.

But as he pulled the woman free and tried to scramble back onto the platform, he fell backwards on the live rail and was electrocuted in front of horrified passengers.

The incident was caught on CCTV and will be examined by officers, who say they are treating it as a "tragic accident".

Mr Dean was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor called to the station. The woman, who has not been named, survived uninjured.

Mr Dean, who was days away from his 21st birthday, was the son of Robbie Dean - a former New Zealand Formula 1 motorcycle racing champion.

His father was told of the tragedy by New Zealand police after they were contacted by their London counterparts, who found his son's passport. He was told his son died "a hero".

Mr Dean said: "It is just the sort of thing he would do. He was a caring guy."

He said his son had travelled to Europe to fulfil his dream of getting a job riding motorcycles.

He had hoped to emulate his father, who said he was "buzzing" with excitement after being offered a trial ride for a major motorcycle racing team in Britain.

"Three teams were keen to give him a test run and there was the possibility of a job in a motorcycle shop as well. He was a natural rider and his aim was to get New Zealand back on the map again."

A police spokesman said that the incident, which happened earlier this month, illustrated the dangers of walking over rails. "This appears to have been a tragic accident caused by such an innocuous act. People must be aware that the lines are electric and they should be aware of the dangers of trying to cross the tracks."

A senior London Underground source said: "This is a very tragic and very, very rare occurrence. Most of those who die on the lines are trespassers or suicide cases."

In 2002 and 2003 there were 27 deaths on the Tube - 17 were trespassers, five were suicides and five passengers.