Two men electrocuted on railway line

Two men, believed to be Royal Marines, were killed after they were electrocuted on a railway track early today.

The men, both in their early twenties, were found after a member of the public saw smoke and reported the smell of burning at around 1am.

British Transport Police were called to investigate and the bodies were found on the track, close to Poole station, Dorset.

Inspector Richard Allison said: "It looks at this stage as though the men were trying to take a short cut when this tragic accident occurred.

"Neither of them was on duty at the time. We are not treating it as suspicious at this time and we are giving out no details of the men until their next of kin have been informed."

He said that the men were believed to be from the Royal Marine barracks in nearby Hamworthy. About eight police officers, ambulance crews and firefighters were called to the scene.

The line was closed and the power turned off while the emergency services dealt with the incident. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene and their bodies were taken to a mortuary.

A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out today. The line was reopened at about 4.30am. No train services were affected.

Most watched News videos