THE family of Surrey cricketer Tom Maynard have expressed their sadness after an inquest into his death found that he had been driving while drunk and high on drugs.
The promising 23-year-old batsman was found near Wimbledon Park station shortly after 5am on June 18 last year, after he fled from his car, having previously been stopped by police after he was seen driving his black Mercedes erratically.
An inquest into his death was held at Westminster Coroner's Court today (Tuesday), which heard that the Surrey player died from multiple injuries after being electrocuted on a railway line before being struck by a train.
A post-mortem examination showed that he was nearly four times the legal alcohol limit to drive, while he had also taken cocaine and ecstasy in the form of MDMA after a night out with flatmates in Wandsworth, south London.
But his family have today released a statement through the Professional Cricketers' Association, which states their sadness at the information that has come to light.
It reads: "The results of the inquest do not define our son. The fact that so many people thought the world of him is what defines him as a person.
"The only people who would judge Tom on the findings of the inquest are people who didn't know him.
"He made choices that night that tragically cost him his life but his devastated family and friends will love and miss him unconditionally, always.
"He was a very special person and his death leaves a huge hole in all our lives."
Maynard, the son of former Glamorgan batsman Matthew Maynard, was tipped for a bright future in the game and had earned himself a place on the England Lions tour to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka following a string of impressive performances for Surrey.
The England Cricket Board and Surrey have today released a joint statement re-iterating that the incident was a terrible human tragedy, while extending condolences to the Maynard family and the player's many friends within the professional game.
The PCA has also expressed its sadness at the information that has come to light, while it has confirmed its support for Tom's family, friends and team-mates at this difficult time and expressed its commitment to assisting players via its Personal Development and Welfare programme.
A jury returned a verdict of accidental death.