An 11-year-old boy was watching an eight-second video sent by a friend on WhatsApp moments before he was struck and killed by a train at a south London level crossing, an inquest has heard.
An 11-year-old boy who died on a level crossing in Croydon was watching a video his friend sent him on WhatsApp when he was struck, an inquest into his death has heard. Jaiden Shehata tragically died at around 8:03am on January 23, 2025 after being struck by a train at a pedestrian level crossing on his way to school after accidentally walking in front of a train travelling 55mph.
He was believed to be distracted by watching a video his friend sent him, South London Coroners’ Court heard today (Tuesday September 22). Senior coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe read out a statement on behalf of Jaiden’s mother, Naglaa Meleika.
She said: “In relation to the video Jaiden was said to have been watching on his phone, this was, we understand, an eight-second video sent to him on WhatsApp, sent to him by his friend. It simply showed his friend’s feet walking.”
The jury inquest, due to conclude on Thursday this week, is looking to establish the safety history of the Bourneview footpath level crossing. It will review why the location was historically classified as high-risk, how Network Rail assessed it, and whether mitigation measures should have been put in place sooner given that six prior near-misses had been logged. The coroner will look at broader risks concerning children navigating these specific types of passive crossings
Jaiden, a Year 7 student at Riddlesdown Collegiate in South Croydon had been walking to school when he was struck by a Southern train travelling at about 50mph at the Bourneview footpath crossing near Kenley. Jaiden’s family tried to get the crossing closed after his death, and a petition calling for this to happen reached 4,030 signatures. Ms Meleika said: “Despite our best efforts, the crossing remained open until August 2025.”
It was temporarily closed that month, and has not yet reopened. Ms Meleika added that the family did not believe that Jaiden had received rail safety education at school.
Daniel Fisk, Head of Level Crossings and Public Safety at Network Rail, also gave evidence to the inquest. He said that it is the organisation’s policy to close as many level crossings as they can due to the safety risk they pose to the public.
He said that the crossing which Jaiden used had “met our standards to stay open” at the time of his death.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) believed Jaiden had been distracted by a video on his phone when he died.
The RAIB found the train driver sounded the horn and applied the emergency brake after he saw Jaiden start to cross the railway. Jaiden looked up in response, but did not have time to move clear before the train reached the crossing.
His family have previously paid tribute to him as a “thoughtful and kind hearted” boy.
They said: “We are absolutely devastated at the loss of our son. Jaiden loved to spread happiness and always had a smile on his face. He was always thoughtful and kind hearted. He found such joy in helping people.
“He was a talented footballer and keen Chelsea Supporter. Jaiden’s other passion was for his faith and Church.
“He had been a Deacon since the age of four years old and this made me so incredibly proud. Jaiden was the most kind hearted and caring boy, and his death has left us all completely shattered. We are lost in our grief.”
The inquest continues.
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