An inquest concluded on Dec. 17, 2025, that 72-year-old Brian Mitchell died accidentally after falling onto the tracks at Stratford station on Dec. 26, 2023, and being struck seven times by Jubilee line trains. RAIB found Mitchell had 272 mg of alcohol in his system and lay undiscovered for about five minutes before multiple trains hit him. Investigators said no emergency brakes were applied; one driver reportedly mistook the body for an "inflatable doll." The senior coroner will issue a prevention of future deaths report to TfL, prompting promised action.
72-Year-Old Fell Onto Stratford Tube Tracks and Was Struck Seven Times — Inquest Rules Death Accidental
EyesWideOpen/GettyStratford Station in London
Nearly two years after the incident, an inquest has concluded that 72-year-old Brian Mitchell died accidentally after falling onto the tracks at Stratford station and being struck multiple times by Jubilee line trains.
What Happened
On Dec. 26, 2023, Mitchell stood up from a bench on Platform 13 at Stratford station at about 2:45 p.m., immediately stumbled forward and fell onto the adjacent track, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) reported. An autopsy later found he had 272 mg of alcohol in his system — more than three times the legal driving limit — and he was wearing dark clothing.
Mitchell was unable to get to a position of safety and lay on the track for approximately five minutes before the first train arrived. According to the RAIB report and testimony at the inquest, the first train struck him and three other incoming trains also entered the terminal platform and struck him, leaving him fatally injured after being hit a total of seven times.
Train Operators' Reactions
RAIB told the inquest that drivers of the four incoming trains either did not see Mitchell or did not react quickly enough to stop. None of the four operators applied the emergency brake. Investigators said the first driver may have been affected by the use of automatic train operation, a later driver reportedly mistook Mitchell's body for an "inflatable doll," and the fourth driver later said he did not apply the emergency brake because he was in shock. RAIB confirmed no signal was issued to stop trains entering the platform while Mitchell lay on the track.
Google MapsEast London Coroner’s Court
Cause of Death
Mitchell sustained multiple injuries. An autopsy concluded the primary cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the chest and head.
Coroner's Response and Next Steps
Graeme Irvine, senior coroner for East London, said he will issue a prevention of future deaths (PFD) report to Transport for London (TfL), warning there is a significant risk of similar tragedies at Platform 13. He described the CCTV footage shown at the inquest as "particularly harrowing" and said the images are likely to compound the family's grief.
"All deaths are tragic in their own way. Brian's death is particularly harrowing, and the CCTV is something I'll think about for a long time," Irvine told the court.
Family Reaction
Mitchell's family, represented by solicitors Thomas Jervis and Philippa Wheeler of Leigh Day, expressed shock that Brian was struck seven times. After the inquest concluded on Dec. 17, 2025, Jervis said the facts were "truly harrowing" and that the family hopes the coroner's report will prompt meaningful safety changes so a similar event cannot happen again.
A TfL spokeswoman, Chief Operating Officer Claire Mann, said the organisation will respond to the coroner's prevention of future deaths report and is taking action to reduce the risk of comparable incidents. RAIB and the East London Coroner's office were contacted for comment during reporting on the inquest.
