TRIBUTES have been paid to a “nice guy who would help anybody”, who died when he was hit by a train.

Trevor Hoey, 44, had been living in Sherburn-in-Elmet, and was remembered by his friends as “a good laugh”, and a “great footballer”.

Mr Hoey died at South Milford railway station last week when he was struck by the 2.42pm Manchester to Hull train.

Kevin Crawford, who knew Mr Hoey for more than 30 years, said: “He was a nice guy who would help anybody, regardless of his own safety. He was intelligent and a good laugh.”

Mr Hoey, originally from Bradford, was a former builder who later worked as a doorman at clubs in Bradford and Leeds for many years.

In August 2001, he was badly injured when he was attacked outside a takeaway restaurant in Odsal. Mr Hoey suffered psychological problems and developed a stammer after the attack.

Mr Crawford said: “He was getting nightmares afterwards. He was always full of life, but he wasn’t the same person in the last couple of years. His death is a terrible shock.”

Another friend, Carl Dalton, said Mr Hoey was “an awesome rugby player, brilliant sprinter and great footballer”.

Mr Hoey is survived by his parents, brother Darren and sister Adele, and his partner Charlotte Knowles, 31, with whom he had lived for the past two years.

A British Transport Police spokesman said the incident was not considered suspicious. An inquest has been opened and adjourned.