Robert John MULLIS · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 18/01/2017 I commenced an investigation into the death of Robert John MULLIS. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 18th May 2017. The conclusion of the inquest was that Robert Mullis died on the evening of 6th January 2017 from injuries sustained when he was hit by a train after disembarking from a train on which he was travelling to London and wandering onto the railway track adjacent to platforms 5 and 6 of Ashford Domestic Railway Station. His reason for doing so cannot be determined but the fact that he was partially sighted and had Parkinsons and Vascular Dementia likely contributed.
1a Multiple Injuries
1b
c
II
Conclusion: Accidental Death

Robert Mullis who had Parkinsons, Vascular Dementia and was partially sighted was put on the South Eastern high speed train at Ramsgate in order to travel to London where he was to be met by his daughter at London St Pancras station. When he failed to arrive daughter became concerned and contacted police. Mr Mullis wore a GPS tracker which showed him to be in the vicinity of Ashford railway station. A police search was instigated and CCTV examined which showed Mr. Mullis to disembark the train shortly before it departed Ashford station and walk off the end of platform 6 onto the railway tracks at 17.45. He was thereafter struck by two trains, the latter causing the injuries from which he died.

I make this report with the knowledge that Network Rail and South Eastern are addressing the issue of track access from platforms nationally with Ashford being addressed in Autumn 2017