A man who died after falling from a railway bridge near Farningham Road railway station had been living with cystic fibrosis.

Jonathan Stringer, 52, was seen on the railway line by the driver of a train at about 8am on the day he died, Wednesday, August 30, an inquest heard.

When a second train travelled over the bridge, which crosses the A225 Main Road, two drivers stopped and “engaged with him in an attempt to coax him into a safe position” the hearing was told.

An air ambulance, ambulance and British Transport Police were called after the retired wages clerk was spotted in a precarious position on the bridge.

But Mr Stringer, who lived in Wilmington, backed away and sat on a wall on top of the bridge. He later fell backwards and landed on the pavement below.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as chest injuries with cystic fibrosis as a contributing factor.

The inherited condition causes the lungs and digestive system to become clogged with thick, sticky mucus.

It is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms get worse over time, and can be fatal if it leads to a serious infection or the lungs stop working properly.

The inquest into Mr Stringer’s death was opened and adjourned by Geoffrey Smith, assistant coroner for North West Kent, at Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone yesterday.

It will be resumed on Wednesday, December 6.

If you would like confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time or email jo@samaritans.org.

For information and support for those living with cystic fibrosis go to www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk, call the charity’s helpline on 020 3795 2184 or email helpline@cysticfibrosis.org.uk