Boy's parents slam investigators for 'blaming our son' after train death report ignores crossing dangers

From the Newshound archive · first published 22 September 2026 · last updated 23 September 2026.

Jozif Shehata, 39, has furiously rejected the Rail Accident Investigation Branch's finding that his son Jaiden, 11, was probably on his phone when a Southern train travelling at 50mph hit and killed him at the Bourneview footpath crossing near Kenley, south London, in January. He contends that the crossing had a record of near-misses and that safety measures should have been put in place well before his son died. The family emphasises that Jaiden had only glanced at a seven-second video clip a friend had sent him — he was not watching a film or wearing headphones.

A Network Rail risk assessment logged six near-misses at the unbarriered crossing between November 2018 and February 2023.

Jaiden's family described him as a 'kind-hearted' Chelsea supporter who had served as a church deacon from the age of four, and said they are now 'lost in grief'.

The RAIB has urged that rail safety education be incorporated into school curricula across the UK, and that hazardous crossing areas be made more visible to users who may not be paying full attention.