was caught hanging on to the back of a Metro carriage, Sydney Morning Herald reports.
But the family of 17-year-old James Wilkinson said they believed the ‘‘lovable larrikin’’ had turned a corner recently after he gained employment as an apprentice builder and had been working up to 12 hours a day in his new job.
Father Tim Wilkinson said his son’s death at Caulfield railway station just before 11pm last night should serve as a warning to other young daredevils.
‘‘If something can come out of it, it’s this message to young kids: don’t do it. It’s unnecessary risk taking, especially when you’ve been having a drink, because the risk taking just gets worse,’’ Mr Wilkinson said.
‘‘If it can stop some other kid doing it, some good can come out of this tragedy.
‘‘He was a lovable larrikin, he had to be the leader of the pack leading by example and showing off and he has paid a very heavy price for it.’’
James, who attended De La Salle College and Camberwell High School, had boasted on a Facebook page dedicated to train surfing last year that he was the ‘‘Kelly Slater of train surfing’’.
His older brother had dropped him off at an 18th birthday party last night in Caulfield, where he had enjoyed a few drinks with friends.
Mr Wilkinson said James had attempted to catch a taxi home to Camberwell but, when he could not hail one down, James and a group of five friends decided to catch the train.
‘‘We think there were about five people in the carriage that he was with at Caulfield station, and no doubt there was alcohol involved and the risk-taking kicks in and the rest is history,’’ Mr Wilkinson said.
‘‘There were two witnesses to it who were independent of the kids.
‘‘We heard about 10.45pm and drove down to Caulfield station and we were there for nearly two hours I suppose, then they took him away to the coroner’s office.’’
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