Girl, 16, killed by train as she tries to recover mobile

A teenage girl has been killed by a train after dashing on to a railway line to save a friend.

Sophie Harris, 16, climbed over a level crossing barrier to help another girl who was searching for her mobile phone.

She died instantly when she was hit by an 85mph train on the main London to South Wales line.

Sophie's death was the latest in a series of tragedies to hit Bridgend, South Wales.

Yesterday her mother Tina, 38, said: 'It was a tragic accident which should never have happened.

'Her friend ran on to the railway line and Sophie went to try to help her.

'She was trying to save someone's life and then the train came. She was oblivious to it, didn't know what was going on and she was hit by the train.

'I've been told that she didn't feel anything. This is just a tragedy  -  Sophie was a lovely girl and full of life.'

The other girl, aged 13, was unhurt after she managed to jump clear in time. The family are not naming her and described her as 'distraught'.

The accident happened at Pencoed station in Bridgend just before 10pm on Friday night.

Flowers and tributes to Sophie have been placed beside the level crossing, including piles of her favourite Snickers chocolate bar.

Sophie, who had two younger sisters and a baby brother, had just left school and hoped to train to be a nursery nurse.

Sophie died on the level crossing at Pencoed Station in Bridgend, South Wales

A friend, Tammy Smith, 17, said: 'Sophie was a lovely girl, everyone knew her and she was really popular.

'It would be just like her to try to save someone in trouble. Her friend was in a terrible state.'

Witnesses told police that they saw the mobile phone being thrown on to the line by a boy among a group of teenagers.

Temporary Detective Inspector Mark Cleland said: 'The death is not being treated as suspicious and appears to have been a tragic accident. The train driver saw someone on the crossing, sounded his horn and applied the emergency brakes but was unable to stop.'

The First Great Western train from Paddington to Swansea came to a halt just past Pencoed station.

Town councillor Richard Williams said there were fears about the automated rail barrier after the manned signalling box was removed more than two years ago.

He said: 'But this would seem to be a different issue and that the girl seems to have gone on to the crossing herself. I'm sure there will be a thorough investigation by the police. It is very tragic and we are all shocked by it.'

A Network Rail spokesman said: 'The train was going at full line speed. There was nothing the driver could do.

'The level crossing barriers had come down so they were working safely and the driver could not stop.'

A report on Sophie's death will be sent to Bridgend coroner Philip Walters.