TWO walkers tried in vain to warn a cyclist moments before he rode in front of a train on a level crossing, an inquest heard.
Father-of-three Phil Dawn was struck by a train travelling from Nottingham to Mansfield Woodhouse while he cycled across the Kings Mill level crossing, near Mansfield.
An inquest into his death heard he may have been wearing headphones and listening to music at the time of the incident.
Giving evidence at Nottingham Coroner's Court yesterday, witness Thomas Butler said he and friend Grant Pinhold heard the train twice sound its horn moments after seeing Mr Dawn go on to the tracks.
Mr Butler said: "I ran out onto the track shouting at him 'there's a train, there's a train'. I've gone to grab him when Grant grabbed me and pulled me back. That's when the train went past us.
"We stood there for ten seconds. I froze and asked Grant if that had just happened. That's when Grant noticed the bike further down the track."
Mr Dawn, 34, of Lindleys Lane, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, was struck by the train at around 4.30pm on May 2 last year.
He was found lying by the side of the track around 100 metres from the crossing.
A postmortem test concluded he died as a result of multiple injuries.
The court heard Mr Butler and Mr Pinhold had been walking on a bridle path near King's Mill Reservoir approaching the crossing when Mr Dawn went past on his bike.
Mr Butler said they had heard music and seen headphones coming out the top of Mr Dawn's sweatshirt.
He said: "When he rode past us he put his hood down, said 'cheers' and gave me a thumbs-up, and then put his hood back up and carried on. I could hear music as he rode past."
When asked by Notts Assistant Deputy Coroner Jane Gillespie if Mr Dawn had been wearing the headphones, Mr Butler said he wasn't sure due to his hood being up.
He added: "All of a sudden he stopped at the gate.
"I asked Grant what was up ahead and he said a rail crossing. As he pulled the gate open I realised I could hear the train coming. We started running and Phil was already cycling out onto the crossing.
"He didn't look; he just had his head straight, looking towards the path."
Mr Butler said the pair ran down the track to Mr Dawn and called 999. He also attempted to give Mr Dawn CPR.
"I did everything I possibly could," he said.
The inquest also heard police evidence which stated that witnesses said Mr Dawn had "seemed oblivious" to the train's presence.
Rail experts are set to give evidence at the inquest, which is due to continue today.
