This is the first photograph of a marketing executive who died after being hit by a Tube train as he bent down to retrieve his bag.
John Burgess, 27, known to friends as Joe, suffered serious head injuries when he was struck by the Northern line train as it pulled into the platform at Stockwell station during morning rush hour.
Commuters went to his aid on the platform and he was taken to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, but he died in intensive care three days later.
Today friends of Mr Burgess, an account manager at Moorgate-based marketing analyst Ebiquity, described him as “a great guy” and said his girlfriend Imogen Willetts — the daughter of former Tory science minister David Willetts — was devastated. One said: “He was a lovely guy, just a fantastic bloke with so many friends.”
His father Mark, a senior director at market research firm Ipsos MORI, was too upset to speak.
Mr Burgess, who studied psychology at York University before graduating in 2009, lived in Brixton with Ms Willetts and another friend.
Police sources confirmed witnesses had reported Mr Burgess had reached to pick up a bag from the tracks as he was struck, and they were treating the incident on April 10 as an accident.
Stockwell was evacuated as medics battled to save Mr Burgess’s life. London Underground denied the station was overcrowded at the time.
At university, Mr Burgess and friends in the film-making society produced comedy clips condensing Hollywood blockbusters Forrest Gump and Kill Bill into 60-second viral videos. They have since been viewed more than five million times on YouTube. He also hosted an online radio show, Radio Pie.
A JustGiving charity page set up in his memory has so far raised more than £4,000 for London’s Air Ambulance, with friends paying tribute to him on the site. Richard Bailey wrote: “Joe you were wonderful and are missed by more than you can imagine.” Helena Temple-Reddish said: “One of the funniest people I knew. Thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends.”
Colleagues of his father at Ipsos MORI donated £2,000 and said: “In memory of Joe from Mark’s friends and colleagues at Ipsos MORI.”
An inquest into Mr Burgess’s death has been opened and adjourned.
