A teenage boy has died while trying to retrieve a football from a railway line in Merseyside.
The boy went on to the tracks between Rock Ferry and Green Lane stations in Wirral at about 1815 BST on Sunday.
British Transport Police (BTP) said that Dale Fleckner, 16, was electrocuted by the third rail which runs between the tracks.
He was taken by ambulance to Arrowe Park Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A BTP spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
“This incident highlights the very real danger posed by the railway and should act as a warning to others to never trespass onto the tracks.
“We understand that it can be tempting to quickly run across tracks as a shortcut or to try to retrieve possessions, but there is never a good reason for trespassing on the railway.”
One of five siblings, Dale was a pupil at University Academy South, Birkenhead, which was formerly Rock Ferry High School.
A talented footballer he was going to study sport at technical college.
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