Mother-of-seven died in ‘tragic accident’ after ‘stumbling’ against passing train while relaxing on bank beside railway tracks with her partner, inquest hears
- Sammie-Jo Edwards, 41, had been lying beside tracks near her home in Somerset
- She stood up as a train approached, stumbled and hit the side of it on June 28
- Her partner Jamie Cullingham said the tragedy had left him feeling ‘numb’
A mother-of-seven died after she accidentally stumbled against a train near a level crossing, her partner has said.
Sammie-Jo Edwards, 41, described as ‘one in a million’, had been relaxing on a bank beside the tracks near her home in Somerset when tragedy struck on June 28.
Boyfriend Jamie Cullingham said she stood up as a train approached but then stumbled and put her arms out – hitting the side of the oncoming express.
An inquest into the incident at Taunton Coroner’s Court, which has been opened and adjourned, gave Sammie-Jo’s cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries.
The couple lived together in Westford Grange and cared for their three children and four others – two each from previous relationships.
Sammie-Jo Edwards, 41, described as ‘one in a million’, had been relaxing on a bank beside the tracks near her home in Somerset when tragedy struck on June 28
He revealed yesterday how he had to break the news to the youngsters, saying: ‘It was two days after our youngest’s fifth birthday.
‘Telling him his mum wasn’t coming home was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.’
‘It seems the train came along, she stood up, stumbled and put her arms out, hitting the side of the train.
‘It was a total accident.’
Originally from Birmingham, Sammie-Jo worked for many years at a local care home but had started a job at a pub just a fortnight before lockdown.
Jamie added: ‘She was very caring, always worried about everybody else, very outgoing.
‘She never discussed her own problems, she was more concerned for other people. I’m just getting by. I’m numb at what’s happened, but I have to stay strong for the kids.’
The inquest into her death was opened and adjourned at Taunton Coroner’s Court yesterday
A GoFundMe page in the name of ‘Sammie’s Angels’ has been set up to meet the costs of her funeral, which is being held later this month.
Former workmate Fiona Gaffa said almost £1,000 had been raised in the first two days.
She said: ‘It was such a tragic accident.
‘The amount raised for the funeral shows how much she was loved in the area. She was a very nice lady, very caring.
‘She took me under her wing and looked after me. She was in the care profession because she cared. She had empathy.’