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Tom Greenway in 2006 |
‘Unhappy convergence of events’ lead to lifeguard’s tragic death
A CORNISH lifeguard who came to London to find work as a filmmaker died after he was hit by a bus in the West End, an inquest heard on Tuesday.
Tom Greenaway, 22, was dragged under the rear wheels of a bus last November in Tottenham Court Road at around 2.45am. He was pronounced dead at University College Hospital, Euston, an hour later.
Bus driver Morgan Asirifi told St Pancras Coroner’s Court he was unaware he had hit anyone until a passer by banged on his window shouting at him to stop.
He denied being distracted by two men who had clambered onto his bus just moments before he pulled up to his final stop by the Centre Point building.
“I wasn’t distracted but it distorted my hearing,” he said. “Because the guy was running down the stairs I didn’t hear anything.”
In a statement made at the time of the accident, witness Moses Marie told police Mr Greenaway had “walked into the side of a bus”.
“I think he was turning his head – he was looking at something, I don’t think he realised the bus was there,” said Mr Marie, an events co-ordinator.
Mr Greenaway had been staying with friends in Camden Town and was in London to make contacts in the film industry after recently graduating with a film studies degree at Plymouth University, his father John said.
“I last saw him a week before he died at Whitstable station when I dropped him off,” said John, who worked with his son on popular Porthmeor beach in the seaside town of St Ives.
A post mortem found Mr Greenaway had been drinking and had traces of a drug similar to ecstasy in his blood.
“It would have left him with a certain level of intoxication,” said coroner Dr Andrew Reid, who ruled his death was an accident.
He added: “Effectively Mr Greenaway stepped or walked into the side of a bus and was knocked to the ground. The rear wheels caused fatal injuries.”
Expert witness PC Adrian Armstrong, a collision investigator, told the court the highway code states Mr Asirifi should have checked his rear-view mirrors before setting off.
He added: “At no point in his statement does he mention using his mirrors. If Mr Asirifi had seen Tom Greenaway walk into the side of the bus it is possible he may have stopped before Tom was fatally injured.”
Mr Asirifi, who had driven a bus for 10 years when the accident happened, still works for Arriva bus company. He has not faced any charges.
Speaking outside court, Mr Greenaway’s parents described his death as a “tragic accident”. His father said: “It was an unhappy convergence of events – if one of them hadn’t been in place perhaps it wouldn’t have happened. If he’d dropped his change while he was buying his chips, perhaps he’d be here now.”
He added: “Tom was a delightful man who is greatly missed by all his family and friends.”
His family called for pedestrian safety at that junction to be reviewed. |
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