Mother, 46, made FaceTime call moments before being hit by a freight train as her partner frantically phoned police, inquest hears

A mother made a final plea as she walked along a railway line before she was hit by a freight train, an inquest has heard.

Jill Parton, 46, FaceTimed with her partner as she walked across the railway tracks near a station in Greater Manchester before they panicked and called police.

The mother, who was also a pub landlady, was near Heaton Chapel station in Stockport in the early hours of June 3 when she was hit by a freight train.

An investigation into Jill’s death was opened yesterday.

According to police coroner Alison Catlow, police were alerted to Jill’s death after receiving a phone call from someone described in court as a “partner”.

The 46-year-old woman made a final phone call to her ‘partner’ as she walked along the railway tracks, an inquest heard

Mrs Catlow told the court: ‘At 3.59am on June 3, British Transport Police received a call from Network Rail that a freight train had hit someone near Heaton Chapel station.

‘After a thorough search for the traces, a woman was found with injuries that were not fit to live.

‘British Transport Police received a call from Greater Manchester Police saying they had received a call from the woman’s partner. He said she had FaceTimed him while she was on the track.’

Ms Catlow added that Jill died of ‘severe traumatic injuries’.

When Assistant Coroner Christopher Murray asked her if a mental health institution was involved with Jill, she replied, “I believe so, sir.”

The mother lived in Heaton Chapel and was known for her time as landlady of The Crown Inn.

Her daughter, Amber Parton, previously said she “literally had nothing in her head” when she was told Jill had died.

Amber said: ‘I just felt numb. I still don’t feel like it’s real. It’s just me and my mum every day. I just feel like she’s going to walk through the door, like she’s not really gone.

“Especially the way it happened – she promised she would never leave me. She told me a few weeks ago that she was having a hard time and didn’t want to be here, but she wouldn’t leave me. She was my best friend and we used to do everything together.”

Amber, 25, described her “vibrant” mother as a “lovely woman who would do anything for anyone.” She said she was a huge animal lover and had hosted more than 50 homeless people in her life.

Amber added: ‘I’d rather go out with my mum than my girlfriends. Everyone I’ve talked to would say this isn’t a normal mother-daughter relationship.

“We told each other everything. Everyone was jealous of our friendship. She never judged me.”

Maxine Campbell, Jill’s friend of over 30 years, started a petition to make small train stations safer in an effort to prevent deaths.

She described the 46-year-old as “like a sister” to her and as “the life of the party”.

Mrs Campbell said: ‘When she first died I was very upset but then I thought of her laughing and just being silly. I started laughing and got angry at myself for trying to be sad.

“She was kind and generous. Everyone considered her a best friend.”

A full investigation will take place at the same court on November 11.

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