A talented musician ate mind-altering magic mushrooms hours before he was killed by a train in Colney, an inquest has heard.

Christopher Johnson, 32, of Ashbourne Court, was killed instantly when he stepped in front of the 6.32pm train from Nottingham to St Pancras on April 16.

He had taken magic mushrooms and became agitated and panicked when he feared someone was trying to kill him.

The inquest was told Mr Johnson was a “talented young man” who “obviously had a real gift for music”.

Assistant coroner Alison Grief said Mr Johnson’s death was not suicide and was directly linked to him taking the mushrooms.

Hertfordshire Coroner’s Court was told Mr Johnson’s mum picked him up from work at around 3pm on April 16.

She said he had had a good day at work and they had a relaxed chat as she drove him home. He had been talking about plans to travel to a football match in Manchester in a few weeks’ time.

Mr Johnson spoke then spoke to a friend at around 3.30pm, who said he appeared normal.

The next time anyone heard from Mr Johnson was at 7.46pm when he made a 999 call, stating he was at Colney industrial estate between Radlett and St Albans.

A transcript read out to the court quoted Mr Johnson saying: “I’ve screwed up, I need the police.

“I know they are trying to kill me, I just need help at the moment.

“I need help right now. I wound people up. I’m not very clear right now because I’m on magic.”

DC Paula Eustace from the British Transport Police (BTP) told the court Mr Johnson was first seen on CCTV when he stepped towards the train at 7.50pm, which was travelling through St Albans at around 110mph.

DC Eustace told the inquest there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a tupperware box with the magic mushrooms was later found at Mr Johnson’s flat.

A post mortem carried out by Dr Rowena Smith found traces of psilocin in Mr Johnson’s blood, a component commonly found in magic mushrooms.

She said eating the musrhooms would have altered behaviour. 

The court heard Mr Johnson had a history of alcohol misuse, anxiety and depression but those factors did not play a factor in his death.

He had taken recreational drugs on a number of occasions.

Coroner Grief recorded a narrative verdict, and said Mr Johnson died as a result of multiple injuries as a result of ingesting magic mushrooms.

She said: “Although there was a history of alcohol misuse and indeed recreational drug use it does seem to me the evidence about his state of mind up to April 16 would show he was not showing any signs of concern, depression, anxiety, or unhappiness."

She said Mr Johnson was not able to think clearly after eating the mushrooms. She added: “I am satisfied that the basis of his emerging on to the railway tracks is more likely than not as a result of the ingestion of that substance altering he balance of his mind.”