Poignant final farewell to Wigan dad who died on the railway

Aden Ashurst travelled to his funeral in a white horse-drawn carriage with the animals wearing orange plumes and coats to represent his job.
The funeral of Aden AshurstThe funeral of Aden Ashurst
The funeral of Aden Ashurst

Mourners lined up along Gidlow Lane as the procession departed from his mum Jean Ashurst's house, with those wanting to pay their respects having to maintain social distancing.

The carriage also stopped outside civil engineer Aden's home on Park Road.

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A total of 10 people were then allowed into Wigan Crematorium for the service saying goodbye to him.

Aden AshurstAden Ashurst
Aden Ashurst

However, Mrs Ashurst said some of Aden's colleagues from the railway were travelling up to Wigan and wanted to stand outside.

Aden, 51, died on April 8 in Northamptonshire. He was pronounced dead at the scene after the emergency services were called to reports of a casualty on the tracks.

He had a two-year-old daughter Layla and a 12-year-old son Michael.

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Mrs Ashurst says the family is still hoping to arrange a larger commemoration of Aden's life once the coronavirus crisis is over.

Heartbreakingly she has not been able to tell Aden's father Tom of his son's death as he has dementia and lives in a care home.

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