A FATHER stepped off a busy railway platform and was hit by an oncoming train as it pulled into a station

A FATHER stepped off a busy railway platform and was hit by an oncoming train as it pulled into a station. Brian Skinner, aged 45, died from massive injuries after becoming trapped under the train at Weston Railway Station on Monday morning.Firefighters, police and paramedics managed to free Mr Skinner, of Old Church Road, Axbridge, but he died at Weston General Hospital later the same morning.British Transport Police said nobody else was involved and they are not treating the incident as suspicious. It remains unclear exactly what happened. A coroner opened an inquest into his death on Wednesday.About 70 passengers had to be evacuated from the station during the incident. Mark Eaton, who was sitting on the train, which was travelling from Bridgwater to Bristol, said: "I was in the front carriage of the train as it was coming into the platform to stop. "There was a thud, as if a car was going over a speed bump. There were screams and I looked out and saw a man's legs sticking out from underneath the carriage."Diana Hunt, joint licensee of the Off The Rails pub, which is located in the station, called the emergency services at 8am.She said: "It was the busiest time of day and the station was packed."The train driver must have been aware of what was happening as he was sounding his horn for a few seconds. He must have seen the man falling or lying on the track."There were a few young girls who saw what happened and they were in a real state. They were all shaking."The emergency services were absolutely brilliant and were at the station within minutes."In the family announcements section of this week's Mercury, Mr Skinner is described as a 'beloved father, brother and uncle'.Mr Skinner's funeral service will take place at St John the Baptist Church in Axbridge at 12.30pm on Tuesday. His family has requested family flowers only with any donations made to the church.