MYSTERY surrounds the deaths of two “fun-loving” people who were hit by trains.

The inquests into the deaths of Elizabeth Neale, of Alvis Close, Bury St Edmunds, and Nico Star Davies-Sober, of New Cheveley Road, Newmarket, were held in Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday. Open verdicts were recorded for both.

Mrs Neale, 51, was hit by a train destined for Felixstowe at the Cattishall foot crossing, one mile east of Bury St Edmunds, on the morning of January 19.

Train driver Stephen Gooch described in his statement how when the crossing came into view it was clear, but then a female pedestrian walked into the crossing from the right-hand side.

He said she was walking briskly as if involved in some form of exercise and appeared to not see the approaching train, so he sounded his warning calls.

But Mrs Neale continued onwards, suddenly stopped, turned and looked at the front of the train and within a second there was impact. She suffered extensive skull fractures and multiple other injuries.

That day she had been due to attend work at Mount Farm Surgery, where she was an administrative officer.

Mrs Neale’s husband Malcolm told in a statement how his wife had been involved in planning their daughter’s wedding, adding how she was “deeply committed” to their family.

He described her as a “fun-loving person, full of life” and “happy” with a wide circle of friends.

He said: “It is my personal and strong belief she would never consider taking her own life.”

The inquest heard Mrs Neale had no history of depression and there was no trace of alcohol or drugs in her blood when she died. The train was found to have no defects.

Mr Davies-Sober, 17, died on October 6 last year at about 8.40pm at the trackside of Warren Hill Tunnel area, Newmarket, when he was hit by the 6.16pm Ipswich/Cambridge passenger train.

He suffered head injuries, with intoxication by alcohol given as a contributory cause.

In a statement his mother Gloria Davies described him as a “fun-loving, caring, articulate boy”.

She said the last time she saw him was on October 6 before he went to college and he was absolutely fine.

The train was found to have no defects and there were no signs of criminality.