A teenager was killed by stepping in front of a train just minutes after being told his grades were n't good enough to stay at sixth form college , an inquest has heard . Michael Platt , 18 , had been studying in the first year of sixth form at Ifield Community College in Ifield , West Sussex , and had left the school just ten minutes before he was struck by a train and killed . An inquest at Horsham Coroners ' Court heard he had been told he had not achieved the grades to enable him to return for a second year , and was advised to go to Central Sussex College 's Crawley campus to see if he could join a course there . Student Michael Platt , 18 , walked in front of a train at Horsham station , West Sussex , after finding out he did not have the grades to progress into the second year of college , an inquest has heard . Instead , in a state of 'turmoil ' , he jumped over the level crossing where he was struck by a train and killed . Michael from Gossops Green , East Sussex , was a member of the college choir and had planned to go to university to study child psychology . Mother Jane spoke at the inquest , and told the coroner her son 'was the life and soul of the party ' , Crawley News reports . She said her son was her best friend , and added : 'The only time he told me anything , looking back , in hindsight , was he thought the world was n't a nice place and he had an issue with the way society is . 'All he said was `` what is the point ? We struggle ; we work hard for nothing at the end of it '' . ' I said `` you leave a legacy '' . But to him the world was an ugly place . ' The 18-year-old had been studying in the first year of sixth form at Ifield Community College in Ifield , West Sussex , and had left the school just ten minutes before he was struck by a train and killed . Inspector Gary Ancell said . 'As the train driver approached the level crossing he said he saw people on either side of the closed gates . 'As he got nearer he saw a young male jump over the barrier and stand in the middle of the railway track , immediately in front of his train . 'There was nothing the train driver could do and he could not stop in time . ' Coroner Dr David Skipp said as there was no note left behind , or a phone call from Mr Platt to loved ones , he did not believe the teenager had meant to take his own life . He recorded an open verdict , and added : ' I expect he was in turmoil when he left the school . 'Whatever was going through his mind , he took absolutely drastic measures , measures which I think he had n't considered the effects of , and who would be hurt by what he did . ' For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 , visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details .
Michael Platt , second year , was sixth form pupil at Ifield Community College . He was told his grades were not good enough to progress to 18 . He 'd left the school just ten minutes before he was struck by a train . Inquest heard that he jumped over the level crossing where he was struck . Coroner recorded open verdict as was n't certain he meant to kill himself .