Surrey county cricketer Tom Maynard has died after he was hit by a train in the early hours of this morning. He was 23.
Maynard, who had been widely tipped as a future England star, died after falling under a London Underground District Line train at Wimbledon Park station, in south west London.
Mystery surrounds the exact circumstances of his death, but it is believed he was fleeing police when before his body was found on the rail tracks.
The Cardiff-born cricketer, who was the son of former England and Glamorgan batsman Matthew, is thought to have been involved in a twilight car chase with officers though the streets of south west London before losing the officers on foot.
Officers tried to pull over a black Mercedes, which was being driven ‘erratically’, an hour before Maynard’s body was found on the tracks.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘At approx 4.15am on Monday, 18 June, officers stopped a vehicle after it was seen being driven erratically in Arthur Road, SW19.
‘The male driver of the vehicle – a black Mercedes C250 – made off on foot.
‘Officers were unable to locate the man.
‘At approx 5.10am the body of a man fitting the same description was found on tracks near Wimbledon Park station.’
The tragedy happened at about 5am – less than 12 hours after the batter had been playing against Kent in a Twenty20 match at Beckenham.
England were today practising at Maynard’s home ground of the Kia Oval ahead of tomorrow’s second one-day international when the news began to emerge. The players were said to be in shock.
Only last week Maynard was disciplined by Surrey for being out late during a championship match against Sussex but he returned to their side for the Twenty20 game at Beckenham against Kent on Sunday.
The tragedy comes ten years after Surrey Cricket Club lost Ben Hollioake to a car accident in Australia.
‘As a mark of respect to Tom, Surrey’s Friends Life t20 game against the Hampshire Royals at the Kia Oval that was scheduled for this Wednesday has been postponed.
A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: ‘BTP officers were called to the line near Wimbledon Park London Underground station on Monday, 18 June after a man was struck by a District line train.
‘The incident was reported to BTP at 5.03am and was also attended by Metropolitan Police officers.
‘London Ambulance Service medics attended but the man, believed to be 23-years-old, was pronounced dead at the scene.’
Tags: 23, a, aged, by, cricketer, is, killed, Maynard, Surrey, Tom, train
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