MYSTERY surrounds why a young “helpful, kind and humorous” Hampshire man took his own life by stepping in front of a train travelling at 80mph.

Straight-A student and railway enthusiast John Slatter was killed instantly at Ashurst station in the New Forest, just a few hundred yards from his home.

His shocked parents and friends were left asking why a promising teenager could not face living any longer.

Mum Christine told the Daily Echo that 18-year-old John, her only child, had showed no signs of depression although, like many teenagers, he could be withdrawn.

She said: “We did not think it would happen. He was an introvert in a lot of ways. He went through phases. Sometimes he was outgoing but in the past couple of years since he was at Brockenhurst College he was quite introverted and did not socialise.”

Christine and husband Stephen now face their first Christmas without John and will miss a thoughtful youngster with his deadpan humour and strong political convictions.

She said: “It seems so tragic because he could have gone on and achieved such good things.”

John, who went to Hounsdown School in Totton before Brockenhurst College, gained Alevels in history, politics and computing, getting three grade As. He was just about to go to the University of Southampton to study history when he committed suicide in September.

Christine said: “He thought he may stay in academia and become a history lecturer.”

Outside his shining career as a student he had a passion for railways and trains, and would keep in contact with a group of enthusiasts on online forums.

This enthusiasm was sparked by childhood family holidays to Wales, when he discovered the world of steam engines thanks to Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society, which he supported.

At an inquest into his death yesterday, Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict that John killed himself but said his motive was a mystery. He had not left a note.

The court heard that tests found that he had not been drinking or taking drugs.

John was seen on CCTV entering the station on the day of his death – Thursday, September 22 – at 8.23pm.

The inquest heard how the driver of the 7.59pm Bournemouth to London Waterloo train had been travelling through the station at 80mph when he saw the youngster standing motionless in the track facing the train and bracing himself for impact.

Mr Wiseman said there had been opportunity for him to get out of the way if had wished to do so.

The next day his parents reported him missing.

Later they identified him on the railway CCTV pictures.