A teenager was chatting to her drunk boyfriend as he was struck and killed by a train.

Lauren Steptoe-Lewin, 19, was talking to the man she called her "soulmate" and on her way to meet him when he was hit by the London to Bognor train.

But she did not know she had just heard from her loved one for the last time.

And it was only days later when she read about the incident in the newspapers that she realised what had happened.

Brett Heath, 19, also known as Brett Ross, died instantly from multiple injuries after leaping over level crossing gates in Horsham Road, Crawley.

An inquest into his death was told how the tragedy unfolded at about 11.30pm on August 16, 2007, not long after the pair had talked about committing suicide.

In a statement made by Ms Steptoe-Lewin, from Fisher Close, Crawley, which was read at the hearing, she said: "He told me, 'I'm going to do it. I'm on my way there now. I'm doing it, it's not your fault'."

The teenager then described hearing a loud bang before the line went dead.

Not understanding what had happened, Ms Steptoe-Lewin carried on to the pub in Crawley where they had agreed to meet.

But she walked home alone when Mr Heath, a former Ifield Community College student who lived at Moorcroft Close, Crawley, failed to show up.

The pair had been together for around a month but had known each other throughout school.

Mr Heath's family dispute that he committed suicide and believe he was killed trying to make his way across the level crossing quickly.

His mother, Virginia Heath, told the inquest: "I know he'd been drinking that night and am certain that his death was an accident."

She added that her son had never spoken about ending his own life and was a "bright and happy" young man earning good money as an award-winning carpet salesman.

Acting Inspector Rebecca Howson, from the British Transport Police, agreed.

She said: "The usual thing for someone who wants to commit suicide would be for them to stand and wait for the train. The witnesses in this case all said he was running or walking quickly."

The inquest heard that Heath had drunk enough to put himself three times over the drink-drive limit.

He did not usually drink "any more" than any other teenager, Mrs Heath said, and when he did drink his mother said it usually made him "silly".

Mrs Heath identified her son at Crawley Hospital by his tattoo on an arm.

The family paid tribute to him, describing him as a "southern lad with northern values".

Mrs Heath added: "He's my eldest son but we were buddies as well. We used to go out together with my mates. We were so close. I'm just lost without him. We all are.

"He's not your average 19-year-old. He's never caused me a single piece of trouble all his life and not many parents can say that about their teenage boys.

"He was loyal to his family. His world revolved around me and mine revolved around his. I'm so proud that he was my son and that's what we made him into."

West Sussex coroner Penelope Schofield said there was not enough evidence to record a verdict of suicide.

She added: "This is a very sad case of a young man who was at the prime of his life.

"It's clear that something happened at the level crossing that resulted in his death. I'm satisfied that the correct verdict is one of misadventure."