A MAN smiled at a train driver seconds before it ploughed into him and killed him.

Robert Probert died instantly as he stood in the path of an oncoming train at a crossing at Wadborough, near Pershore.

Mr Probert, aged 37, of Dixey Court, North Malvern Road, Malvern, suffered multiple injuries when he was struck at about 8.38pm on Thursday, March 29 on the Cheltenham to Worcester railway line.

The southbound train was loaded with steel and travelling at about 50mph.

Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams read out a statement by train driver Trevor Collins at the inquest into Mr Probert's death at Stourport-on-Severn on Monday.

The statement read: "A quarter of a mile along the track I saw the beam on the face of a man who was looking at me. He had his arms outstretched and waved them over his head and appeared to be smiling and grinning. I put on the emergency brakes and I heard a loud thud."

By the time the train stopped it had already travelled a quarter of a mile beyond the accident scene.

The jury of four men and five women were told that Worcester-born Mr Probert had been suffering from depression and talked about ending his life to his family.

On the day of his death he got a taxi to Wadborough telling his family he planned to go trainspotting, taking with him a shoulder bag and six carrier bags loaded with his belongings.

An allegation of harassment had been against Mr Probert and he was arrested just three days before his death which caused him further anxiety because he was worried he would be sent to prison.

Mr Williams said: "He told his father he wanted to be taken to the railway where he would end it all. He received full support from his family and he calmed down and the matter seemed to recede. On March 29 his parents visited him and found him to be in good spirits. He had booked a taxi for 6.30pm to take him to a spot where he was going to go trainspotting. They thought nothing of it. It was something he had done before. That's the last the parents saw of their son."

The jury was also told that Mr Probert became "frustrated and angry" because of learning difficulties and suffered from paranoia but was known as a kind man who loved animals.

A post-mortem revealed he had 87mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, putting him slightly above what would be the drink drive limit.

The jury recorded an open verdict. Mr Probert's brother and sister were at the inquest but declined to comment.