Donna Oettinger and Zachary with father
Donna Oettinger and Zachary as a baby with his father

This is the mother and her young son who died under a train at a Surrey railway station.

Donna Oettinger, 41, and three-year-old Zachary were killed instantly when they fell in front of a train at Riddlesdown station near Purley during the morning rush-hour.

Reports indicated that Oettinger had been suffering from depression. Zachary turned three only days before he was killed. He had recently won a deal as a child model with an agency.

Oettinger had posted messages on Facebook about her troubles and the enormous love she had for her son.

"I hope and pray there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am more then certain docs don't know what they are prescribing," she wrote in two posts in December.

"Thank God I have my son Zaki. I owe him a lot when I get better. Love you son with all my heart xxx."

In August, she had written: "Best day of my life when my beautiful Zaki was born. He brings so much happiness to my life. I love you so much Zaki, love mummy."

Zachary plays happily on bike near home
Zachary plays happily on bike near home

Neighbours in Purley, where Oettinger lived with Zachary, spoke of their shock at their deaths. The boy's father is reportedly an Egyptian man who lives abroad.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that the woman and child who died at Riddlesdown rail station have been named as Donna Oettinger, 41, and her son, three-year-old Zachary.

"BTP officers were called to the station after a report that a woman and a child had been struck by a train.

"Medics from the London Ambulance Service also attended, but Donna and Zachary were pronounced dead at the scene."

Senior investigating officer DCI Iain Miller said: "Officers are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances of what happened, although early indications show that no one else was believed to have been involved."