A teenager who texted his mother to say he had the "best weekend of his life" was fatally electrocuted after falling onto a live railway track, an inquest has heard.

Charlie Hearne-Kingsford, 18, was intoxicated when he got off a train at Strood, Kent, on March 8, and subsequently stumbled onto the tracks. He had been on his way home from a weekend of partying with friends in Tottenham, north London.

Witnesses observed a man who appeared "unsteady on his feet" on the platform as he disembarked the train. CCTV footage showed Mr. Hearne-Kingsford walking towards the exit before falling onto the line.

Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 4:10 p.m., but the teenager was pronounced dead nearly 40 minutes later. A toxicology report later indicated that he had a substantial amount of alcohol in his system at the time of his death.

Just hours before the incident, Mr. Hearne-Kingsford had sent a message to his mother, Abbi Townsend, stating he had "the best weekend of his life."

An inquest in Maidstone heard that Mr. Hearne-Kingsford, who resided in Walderslade, was diagnosed with hypophosphatemic rickets, a rare genetic disorder that caused slow growth, shortly after his birth. His mother described him as determined not to let the condition define him.

Ms. Townsend told the inquest that her son was "funny and popular" with many friends and enjoyed being a big brother to his younger siblings. He had recently started working as a tarmacker and had interests in football and boxing. She added that he was close to his family and played a significant role in their lives. Ms. Townsend also noted that turning 18 had been a life-changing milestone for her son, allowing him to socialize with friends on weekends.

She described her son as a "real character" who took pride in his appearance and had a charming demeanor. "I struggle to put into words the reality of never being able to see him again," a statement from Ms. Townsend read. "My goal in life is to continue his legacy and make him proud."

Coroner Patricia Harding stated at the inquest that Charlie was with friends and "very intoxicated" when he got off the train. She recorded his death as an accident and offered condolences to the family.

Following his death, tributes were left near the railway line, including a vest bearing his picture with the inscription "our Charlie boy, fly high son," along with numerous flowers and notes. One message read: "Taken too soon but not forgotten. Fly high angel, forever in our hearts."