The death of a 21-year-old soldier who was struck by a train near Bradford on Avon Railway Station was accidental, an inquest has ruled.

Max McBride, of Poulton, Bradford on Avon, was hit by the Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth train at about 6.35am at Tucker’s Occupational Crossing, a mile east of the station.

The soldier, who was based at Tidworth Barracks with the King’s Royal Hussars, had spent the evening of May 23 last year drinking with friends in Trowbridge before taking a shortcut home along the railway line.

Friend Neil Jeffries, who went to school with Mr McBride at St Laurence, was with him.

He said: “He had quite a few drinks but not as much as normal. We met in Chicago Rock, then went to the Courthouse.

“We left some time between 2am and 4am. Normally he would get a taxi home but didn’t have much money that night. He was in a pleasant mood when we separated. He wasn’t down as far as I know.”

The train was approaching the crossing at about 50mph, when driver Michelle Cronin, who was wearing sunglasses due to the morning sunlight, noticed a shadow on the crossing.

The inquest jury at Trowbridge Town Hall on Wednesday heard that by the time she realised it was a man crouched on his haunches across the tracks, she was unable to stop or sound the train’s horn.

A post-mortem examination revealed no evidence of drugs in Mr McBride’s system.

A report by consultant pathologist Matthew Slynn, which was read out in court, said Mr McBride’s blood alcohol level was 134 milligrams, over the drink-drive limit and potentially sufficient to cause slurred speech, unsteadiness and nausea, depending on his tolerance.

In a statement, friend Imogen Harding-Wyatt said she had only noticed Mr McBride drink a couple of pints of lager all evening, and that he was not drunk when he left at about 3am.

She received a text message from him at 4.25am saying: “You alright? You looked nice tonight X”.

Brother Jacob McBride said in a statement that he and his brother had often used the railway as a shortcut between Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon after a night out.

Mother Serena Pugh said in a witness statement: “He would occasionally get himself into trouble when he had been drinking. On two occasions he had to have his stomach pumped.

“I have never known him to be depressed. He would always try to find a solution to take him back to his usual self.”

Mr McBride’s father Christopher described his son as a hard worker and a respected serving soldier who gave no impression he intended to take his own life.

Mr McBride had been with the Army three years and was on course to become a qualified tank gunner.

Coroner Ian Singleton denied the jury the option of a suicide verdict.

* Verdict: accidental death.