Tom Maynard dead: Model girlfriend Carly Baker pays tribute to Surrey cricketer on Twitter

Tom Maynard dead: Model girlfriend Carly Baker pays tribute to Surrey cricketer on Twitter

• Train driver understood to have spotted a man's motionless body lying on the track but was unable to pull on the brakes in time
• Maynard died in the early hours of this morning after being hit by the District Line train
  
• Police are probing the possibility that he was killed attempting to cross a live rail line
  
• It is thought he was fleeing police before he was found dead on the tracks at Wimbledon Park station, south west London
• It was claimed he was driving to see his girlfriend when police apparently stopped his car
• The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into the incident
  
• He was the son of former England and Glamorgan batsman Matthew
• Maynard played for his county in their Twenty20 game in Kent just 14 hours before he died
• Tributes pour in from cricketing world - Surrey players said to be in shock
• Surrey Cricket Club: 'His future potential was unlimited'

By Matt Blake, Paul Newman and Leon Watson

PUBLISHED: 06:25 EST, 18 June 2012 | UPDATED: 14:20 EST, 18 June 2012

Tragic: Tom Maynard died in the early hours of this morning after being hit by a train on London Underground's District Line

The girlfriend of tragic Surrey county cricketer Tom Maynard has spoken of her grief after her 'special man' was killed by a Tube train following a dramatic police chase this morning.

Speaking on Twitter, underwear model Carly Baker, from Wimbledon, south west London, near where her boyfriend died, said: 'You're the most special man I have ever met. You made me the happiest girl. I love you always X.'

'We will always be together. I love you Tom X,' she added.

'My beautiful boyfriend Tom Maynard, I can't cope with this. I love you always and forever. You mean't everything to me.'

Maynard, 23, who had been widely tipped as a future England star, was hit by a London Underground District Line train near Wimbledon Park station.

But mystery shrouded the 'prodigious' batsman's death today amid early reports that he had fled police an hour before his lifeless body was found on the tracks just after 5am.

Police are now investigating whether was killed as he tried to cross a live rail line and was already dead or dying when struck by the train.

The train driver is understood to have spotted a 'motionless' body lying on the line but was unable to pull on the brakes in time.

Maynard, who was the son of former England and Glamorgan batsman Matthew, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has confirmed it had been notified of the incident.

In a statement the IPCC said: 'Once a formal referral has been received from the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) an assessment will take place regarding the level of IPCC involvement.'

Earlier, police officers had tried to pull over a black Mercedes, which they said was being driven 'erratically'.

But as they approached the driver, Maynard, who had played for his county just 14 hours before, leapt from the car and fled into the night.

As further details began to emerge today about the Cardiff-born cricketer's death, it was claimed he had been on his way to visit Miss Baker in the area.

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Maynard's girlfriend Carly Baker, from Wimbledon, south west London, paid tribute to him on Twitter

Tom Maynard's girlfriend Carly Baker responded to news of his death on Twitter

Promising: The Surrey batsman was widely tipped as a future England international

Today her devastated father visited the scene. The man was overheard saying Maynard was on his way to see his daughter.

Newsagent Bharat Chandarana, 58, said the visibly upset man knew what had happened when he arrived at 10am.

He said: 'He told me the man that was hit by the train was his daughter's boyfriend. He said "He was coming to see my girl".

'He is a long-term customer that lives nearby. He was on the phone near the station for a long-time pacing up and down the road then he left.'

Tom Maynard's Mercedes, which was parked near Wimbledon Park station, being taken away today

CCTV footage shows a police car in the search for Surrey cricketer Tom Maynard minutes before he was found dead on a London train line

Later footage from a nearby baker emerged showing a patrol car scouring the street shortly after police pulled him over and minutes before he died.

A patrol car made four trips in the space of eight minutes in the early hours as they hunted for Maynard.

A local resident said she saw police use sniffer dogs to search through the gardens near the underground tracks.

She said: 'I was woken up at about 4.30am to men talking on radios. I had a look outside and there was one officer directing sniffer dogs.

'He was pointing them to the gardens on Melrose Avenue they were clearly looking for someone. They were searching practically every garden on Melrose Avenue looking for him.'

The car: A black Mercedes belonging to Maynard in a Police cordon just a few streets from where he died. Police stopped a man driving 'erratically' in a black Mercedes an hour before he died

Stopped: The car appears to have been left in a hurry blocking a driveway

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'At approx 4.15am on Monday, 18 June, officers stopped a vehicle after it was seen being driven erratically in Arthur Road, SW19.

'The male driver of the vehicle - a black Mercedes C250 - made off on foot.

'Officers were unable to locate the man.

'At approx 5.10am the body of a man fitting the same description was found on tracks near Wimbledon Park station.'

England were today practising at Maynard’s home ground of the Kia Oval ahead of tomorrow’s second one-day international when the news began to emerge. The players were said to be in shock.

Scene: Maynard died after falling under a London Underground District Line train at Wimbledon Park station, in south west London

Crossing the tracks? A general view of Wimbledon Park tube line, South West London where Maynard died. Police are investigating whether he was killed as he tried to cross a live rail line and was already dead or dying when struck by the train

Tom Maynard's last steps showing his journey from Ryfold Road to where he died less than half a mile away on tracks near Wimbledon Park Station

Only last week Maynard was disciplined by Surrey for being out late during a championship match against Sussex but he returned to their side for the Twenty20 game at Beckenham against Kent on Sunday.

The tragedy comes ten years after Surrey Cricket Club lost Ben Hollioake to a car accident in Australia.

Maynard, a likeable and charismatic player at Surrey according to members of the club, played for the county in their Twenty20 game in Kent just 14 hours before he died, scoring seven runs.

A SPORT IN MOURNING: CRICKET STARS PAST AND PRESENT PAY TRIBUTE ON TWITTER

Andrew Flintoff: 'Tragic news that a great lad, Tom Maynard is no longer with us. All my thoughts are with his family at this awful time x x'

Michael Vaughan: 'Someone with so much talent and so much to look forward too...Why is life so cruel sometimes...?'

Adam Hollioake, former Surrey captain who lost brother Adam in a car accident ten years ago: 'I'm totally numb...brings back terrible memories....Im feeling so sad for Matthew right now :-('

Jason Roy, Surrey colleague: 'Cant believe im writing this. R.I.P Tom Maynard, one of my best friends.You will always be in my heart and will miss you so so much.'

Jonny Bairstow, England batsman: 'Tragic news about Tom Maynard! Great bloke and serious player! Thoughts are with all his family and friends. £RIP'

Dimi Mascarenhas, Hampshire all-rounder: 'My thoughts and prayers go out to Matt Maynard family and friends at this horrendous time.. Tom will be missed by many.. Sad sad time..'

Graham Onions, England bowler: 'Words can't describe how sad I am hearing the news about Tom Maynard, my thoughts are with his family and friends £RIPTom'

Stuart Broad, England all-rounder: 'Absolutely gutted this morning to hear the news about Tom Maynard. A lovely guy and great talent. #RIPTom'

Alec Stewart, retired England batsman: 'We've sadly lost a lovely lad who had the talent to be something very special. My thoughts go out to the Maynard Family. RIP Tom

Maynard began this season in fine form, making his highest first-class score of 143 against Worcestershire, and may well have got his first England call-up later this year.

Maynard came through the ranks at Glamorgan before moving to Surrey last summer.

The big-hitting batsman was considered a rising star in the game and earned himself a place on the England Lions tour to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the start of this year.

As news of his death filtered through the cricketing fraternity, tributes began pouring in for the 'prodigiously talented young batsman' as colleagues, team members and the wider sporting world struggled to come to terms with his sudden death.

England legend Andrew Flintoff said on Twitter: 'Tragic news that a great lad, Tom Maynard is no longer with us. All my thoughts are with his family at this awful time x x.'

Michael Vaughan said: 'Someone with so much talent and so much to look forward too...Why is life so cruel sometimes...?

He added: 'Thoughts are with Matt Maynard and his family.. Words can't describe the Terribly sad news that Tom Maynard has died aged 23...'

England batsman and friend Joss Buttler added: 'Life has been truly put in perspective today. Lost a great bloke and a hugely talented cricketer today. Devastated. #RIPTomMaynar'

Former Surrey captain Adam Hollioake, who lost brother and fellow cricketer Ben Hollioake in a car accident 10 years ago, said: 'I'm totally numb...brings back terrible memories....Im feeling so sad for Matthew right now :-('

Surrey colleague Jason Roy said: 'Cant believe im writing this. R.I.P Tom Maynard, one of my best friends.You will always be in my heart and will miss you so so much.'

England batter Jonny Bairstow said: 'Tragic news about Tom Maynard! Great bloke and serious player! Thoughts are with all his family and friends. £RIP'

Hampshire all-rounder Dimi Mascarenhas said: 'My thoughts and prayers go out to Matt Maynard family and friends at this horrendous time.. Tom will be missed by many.. Sad sad time..'

England bowler Graham Onions said: 'Words can't describe how sad I am hearing the news about Tom Maynard, my thoughts are with his family and friends £RIPTom.'

Alec Stewart, the retired England batsmanand wicket keeper added: 'We've sadly lost a lovely lad who had the talent to be something very special. My thoughts go out to the Maynard Family. RIP Tom'

His club chairman, Richard Thompson, said: 'Our thoughts at this awful time are with Tom's family and friends and all those that were close to him.

The big-hitting batsman was considered a rising star in the game and earned himself a place on the England Lions tour to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the start of this year

'Prodigious': Tom Maynard with his 'Man Of The Match' champagne after his innings of 60 against Sussex last September

In training: Cardiff-born Maynard was a 'prodigiously talented young batsman who had made an incredible start to his career'

'Tom Maynard was a prodigiously talented young batsman who had made an incredible start to his career and was clearly destined for far greater things.

'The impact Tom made in such a short period of time for Surrey CCC spoke for itself.

'There is a profound sense of loss at the passing of Tom.

'To lose anybody at such a young age is an utterly senseless tragedy.'

Surrey's flag was at half-mast for Maynard at The Brit Oval cricket ground in Kennington, south London

Tom Maynard appeared on Sky's cricket talk show Cricket AM on Saturday, June 16

The club added: 'He had impressed in all forms of the game, scoring a maiden first-class hundred in Cardiff last year, playing a key role in Surrey's victory in the Clydesdale Bank 40 and earning selection for the England Lions.

'His future potential was unlimited, with experts both inside and outside the club predicting he would soon follow in the footsteps of his father Matthew by graduating to full England honours.

'As a mark of respect to Tom, Surrey's Friends Life t20 game against the Hampshire Royals at the Kia Oval that was scheduled for this Wednesday has been postponed.

Gifted family: The Cardiff-born cricketer was the son of former England and Glamorgan batsman Matthew Maynard

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: 'BTP officers were called to the line near Wimbledon Park London Underground station on Monday, 18 June after a man was struck by a District line train.

'The incident was reported to BTP at 5.03am and was also attended by Metropolitan Police officers.

'London Ambulance Service medics attended but the man, believed to be 23-years-old, was pronounced dead at the scene.'

England are due to play West Indies at Surrey's Kia Oval ground tomorrow. Surrey team-mate Jade Dernbach has been released from England's squad on compassionate grounds, with Chris Woakes replacing him.

In Wales, he tiny village of Pentyrch was in shock as friends and neighbours arrived at the family of Maynard father Matthew.

A family spokesman at the £250,000 semi detached house was in tears as he said: 'It is too early to say anything - we still don't understand the circumstances surrounding Tom's death.'

Former England batsman Matthew, 45, his teacher wife Sue, 51, and sister Ceri, 19, were said to be 'heartbroken' at the death of the young sportsman.

A neighbour said: 'We are all in shock - they are a very close-knit family - I just don't know how they are going to cope.

'I've seen them and they are absolutely beside themselves. I found out this morning what had happened and went straight to see Matthew.

'I held him in my arms as we both sobbed. He didn't say a word. I've known Tom all his life - our children were very good friends. It feels like only yesterday Tom was out here on the lawn playing.'

Tom was still registered as living at the 1950s red brick semi with ivy crawling up the front of the property.

Nine cars were parked outside the Maynard home in the village north of Cardiff as people called to support the devastated family.

Another neighbour, who didn't want to be named, said: 'We're in absolute shock - Tom was such a lovely boy.

'We are a close-knit community here and the whole family was well-though of in the village. He was so young - it's just absolutely devastating.'

The village has two pubs, a post office, butchers, a rugby club and cricket club.

Len Smith, a groundsman at the village cricket club, said: 'I've known Tom since he was a little nipper. His talent stood out a mile from when he was a young boy.

He was full of life - I remember when he was seven or eight-years-old. He used to ride around the square of the pitch - I had to chase him off and tell him to ride some where else.

'He was a cheeky chap and as he grew up he turned into a handsome young guy - a real ladies man. He was a talented and ambitious young sports star, fit as a fiddle. We can't get over it, it's absolutely gutting.'

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