At a glance
• 11-year-old Jaiden Shehata was struck and killed by a train while using a pedestrian level crossing in Kenley, south London, on January 23, 2025.
• An investigation found he was likely distracted by a video on his mobile phone and unaware of the approaching train.
• The crossing had no active warning systems and was previously identified as one of the most dangerous in the region, with prior near misses and a past fatality.
A schoolboy was probably distracted by a video on his mobile phone when he was struck and killed by a train as he used a level crossing to cross railway tracks in south London, an investigation has found.
Jaiden Shehata, 11, was walking to Riddlesdown Collegiate when he was struck by a Southern train travelling at 53mph as he used the Bourneview pedestrian crossing near Kenley, in the borough of Croydon, shortly after 8am on January 23.
A report published by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch on Tuesday said the accident happened because Jaiden did not realise the risk posed by the approaching train, “probably because [he was] distracted by [his] mobile phone”.
Jaiden had regularly used the crossing as his route to and from school since starting secondary school in September 2024. It was the quickest way from his home.
Images from the train’s forward-facing CCTV camera system showed that Jaiden was walking at a steady pace, looking ahead and down at a glowing object, “almost certain to be the illuminated screen of a mobile phone”.
The report said: “Analysis of the pedestrian’s mobile phone suggests that a video clip was playing at the time of the accident.”
It was a damp, cold morning and Jaiden had his coat hood pulled up over his head. “This may have reduced their peripheral vision and hearing and affected their perception of the approaching train,” the report said.
Jaiden stepped onto the crossing when the five-carriage train, the 0755 from Caterham to London Bridge, was only 60m away.
The driver applied the emergency brakes and sounded the train horn when the train was 15m away, causing Jaiden to look up. But he did not have time to react and move clear of the train, meaning the collision was “unavoidable”.
The report said: “There is no evidence to suggest that the pedestrian was aware of the approaching train before the warning horn was sounded.”
The RAIB report also reveals that a review by Network Rail in May 2023 found it was the 13th most dangerous crossing in its Sussex region, which covers much of the railway south of the Thames.
Six “near misses” had been documented between 30 November 2018 and February 2023. There was also a fatality in March 2020, which Network Rail recorded as being due to a “deliberate act”.
An average of 64 pedestrians and 78 trains a day used the crossing.
The RAIB found the crossing, between the stations at Whyteleafe and Kenley, was a “passive” crossing with no active warning systems alerting pedestrians to approaching trains.
On the Sussex route, there are 111 such crossings, out of a total of 211 level crossings.
The report said the lack of active warnings was a “probable causal factor” in Jaiden’s death.
It added: “It could also have been made more obvious to pedestrians that they were entering a potentially hazardous area. This is a possible causal factor.
“Possible underlying factors in this accident were that access to information relating to safe use of level crossings for schools and parents is not sufficiently widespread and that Network Rail’s guidance for risk assessments at level crossings did not recognise the different risk profile of younger people.”
The crossing has been closed since the tragedy. Network Rail plans to upgrade the crossing in December. It had decided in 2023 to upgrade the crossing but this was originally not due to happen until 2026.
In a tribute after Jaiden’s death, Riddlesdown Collegiate described him as a “kind and popular” student, and a “valued member” of the school community.
About 4,000 people signed a petition calling for action on the Bourneview level crossing in the wake of the youngster’s death.
The petition stated: “This hazardous crossing is directly responsible for the heartrending grief and the unnecessary loss of precious lives.
“The anguish of losing a child is something no parent should ever have to experience, especially due to an avoidable hazard like this.
“The fatal incident involving the young boy should serve as a call to action for us all, to prevent any more families from experiencing this pain.”
The RAIB has recommended that schools work with Network Rail to educate pupils about local dangers on the railway.
It has told Network Rail to “make the dangerous area at level crossings more noticeable, particularly to people whose attention may be distracted”.
Network Rail should also consider whether crossings used by younger people should have a different risk rating.
The report said trains travelling at the maximum permitted speed of 60mph allowed in the area would cover 215 metres in eight seconds – highlighting how far pedestrians need to look down the tracks to be sure they can cross safely.
On Thursday, Network Rail said it would study the RAIB report and act on its recommendations.
Lucy McAuliffe, Sussex route director for Network Rail, said: “The thoughts of everyone in the rail industry remain with Jaiden’s loved ones, the pupils of Riddlesdown Collegiate, and the local community. There are no words sufficient to express our sorrow after such a loss.
"We are taking significant steps to help prevent a tragedy like this from happening again. Following close work with Croydon council, the crossing was temporarily closed on August 11. In December, we’ll be installing miniature stop lights to improve safety by providing a clear signal and warning sound to let people know when it is safe to cross.
“As an industry, we are committed to working with schools to highlight the importance of knowing how to behave safely when in a rail setting. We also offer age-appropriate resources for school pupils from three to 16 on our relaunched Switched On rail safety website (switchedonrailsafety.co.uk). These resources are available free of charge to teachers, parents and anyone educating children about railway safety.”
