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The Girl on the Railway Tracks: The Heartbreaking Story of Kiena Dawes
Authors note: The following article contains graphic details of domestic violence, abuse, self-harm and suicide. Please take note of this if you are sensitive to these topics.
In the soft light of a July morning in 2022, a young mother named Kiena Dawes made a final decision.
The July sun beat down on the railway tracks near Garstang, Lancashire, casting harsh shadows across the scene that would forever change the lives of everyone who loved Kiena Dawes. The 23-year-old hairdresser’s body lay where she had deliberately placed herself in the path of an oncoming train, her bright auburn hair splayed against the gravel, a stark contrast to the cold metal rails. In death, as in life, Kiena was striking — her delicate features still bearing the fading bruises from what would be the final assault she would endure.
Twenty miles away, in a modest flat in Fleetwood, her nine-month-old daughter Marnie slept peacefully in the arms of Kiena’s friend Stacey Farrell, unaware that her world had irreversibly changed. Beside the sleeping child lay a carefully packed bag containing everything a baby might need — diapers, formula, favorite toys, and clothes meticulously folded. This final act of motherly devotion, this careful preparation for a future she would not be part of, spoke volumes…
