Drama graduate, 22, killed by train while attempting to retrieve dog from level crossing

Yasmin Jones had been walking dogs with friends when she was struck by the train in Formby, Merseyside

Yasmin Jones, 22, died in a collision with a train after she tried to retrieve a dog from a level crossing (Facebook/Yasmin Jones)

A 22-year-old aspiring actress was tragically killed by an oncoming train after she went onto a level crossing to retrieve a dog.

Yasmin Jones, a drama graduate from Liverpool’s John Moores University, was struck by the train at Fisherman’s Path level crossing in Formby, Merseyside, on Wednesday afternoon.

Ms Jones, originally from Glastonbury, Somerset, had been walking two dogs with friends at the Red Squirrel Nature Reserve when one of the animals later went onto the tracks.

She then attempted to rescue the dog, which belonged to her boss, from the “high risk” level crossing.

A British Transport Police spokesman confirmed its officers attended the scene alongside paramedics and their colleagues from Merseyside Police, and that they would not be treating the incident as suspicious.

Her father told the Daily Mail: “Yasmin had taken the dogs to a nature reserve, where she had been looking for red squirrels. The dog caught sight of another dog on the other side of the line and ran.

“Without thinking Yasmin followed.”

The Caledonia pub in Liverpool, where Ms Jones had been working, posted a tribute on Facebook yesterday: “It is with deep regret and sorrow that we have to tell you that our friend and colleague Yasmin Jones passed away on Wednesday in a tragic accident.

“Our pub is closed, we aim to reopen Monday. We hope you can appreciate it's going to be a very difficult time for all of us.

“She was a pleasure to have known and we will miss her beauty more than words can say.”

In a statement, Ms Jones’ family said that “no words could describe” their pain and that they are “totally devastated by the loss of Yasmin, our beautiful and talented daughter, sister and granddaughter”.

“We are comforted by the knowledge that her energy and lust for life touched the hearts of so many,” the family said.

Network Rail had reportedly identified the Fisherman’s Path level crossing as a danger and had been planning to replace it with a footbridge within the next year, according to the Liverpool Echo.