Tom Maynard 1989 - 2012 Credit: Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport
An inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court has returned a verdict of accidental death in the case of Cardiff-born cricketer Tom Maynard.
Maynard, who had been widely tipped as a future England international, was found dead near Wimbledon Park station on the London Underground District line shortly after 5am on Monday June 18 last year.
The inquest heard he was struck by a train as he attempted to flee police after driving while on a cocktail of drink and drugs.
The 23-year-old Surrey batsman suffered multiple injuries caused by the impact of the train and from touching a live electric railway line, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.
He was stopped by police less than an hour before his death when his black Mercedes was seen driving erratically but the sports star fled the vehicle.
A post-mortem examination showed he was nearly four times the legal limit to drive and had also taken cocaine and ecstasy in the form of MDMA after a night out with two team-mates.
Tests on hair samples indicted Mr Maynard may have been a daily user of drugs in the three and a half months before his death, the inquest heard.
An inquest into the death of Cardiff-born cricketer Tom Maynard has heard he was electrocuted before being hit by a tube train as he tried to flee police.
We, along with Surrey CCC, Glamorgan CCC and the ECB have supported everyone impacted both directly and indirectly by Tom's death, collectively with bereavement counselling, and individually where necessary.
Amongst the headlines which will inevitably be generated by the inquest findings, consideration must now be given to the Maynard family who are experiencing a further wave of tragedy. We must all now move forward and remember Tom as a tremendously talented young man who had so much to look forward to. We must focus on building a positive legacy in his memory.
Maynard family:'Inquest results do not define our son'
The Maynard family have released the following statement:
"The results of the inquest do not define our son. The fact that so very many people thought the world of him is what defines him as a person.
"The only people who would judge Tom on the findings of the inquest are people who didn't know him. He made choices that night that tragically cost him his life but his devastated family and friends will love and miss him unconditionally, always.
"He was a very special person and his death leaves a huge hole in all our lives."
Maynard 'enjoyed socialising and enjoying himself'
by Paul Brand - ITV London reporter
Tom Maynard's father, the former England international Matthew Maynard, has said it is important his son is "remembered as a person as well as a cricketer" in a statement read at his inquest.
"He enjoyed socialising and to drink alcohol at the right times and to enjoy himself with the lads," Matthew Maynard added.
It was after a night of socialising that Tom Maynard abandoned his car after being spotted by police and was found on the train line at Wimbledon, south-west London.
Welsh cricketer was 'four times over the legal limit' to drive
A county cricketer was electrocuted on a railway line before being struck by a train as he attempted to flee police, an inquest heard today.
Tom Maynard was found near Wimbledon Park station on the London Underground District line shortly after 5am on Monday, June 18 last year.
The 23-year-old Surrey batsman was electrocuted after stepping on a live track before his lifeless body was hit by a train, causing him to die from multiples injuries, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.
He'd earlier been stopped by police nearby after his black Mercedes was seen driving erratically.
A post-mortem examination showed he was nearly four times the legal limit to drive and had also taken cocaine and ecstasy in the form of MDMA after a night out with his two flatmates in Wandsworth, south London.
Tom Maynard's father in tribute to 'highly talented' son
by Paul Brand - ITV London reporter
The inquest into the death of Surrey county cricketer Tom Maynard, who died on a Tube line in Wimbledon last year, has heard a statement from his father, Matthew Maynard.
He said his son was a "highly talented, dedicated and respected sportsman (who) always had time for people".
The inquest at Westminster Coroners' Court is expecting to hear evidence from England player Jade Dernbach and former Surrey captain Rory Hamilton-Brown.
