A WIRRAL man who was found in a freight train 50 miles from his home was being treated for severe burns in hospital last night.

The 22-year-old, from Birkenhead, was found in a coal wagon at Earle’s Sidings near Hope, in the Peak District, on Saturday.

It is believed he fell from a railway bridge in Warrington, as the train travelled underneath, and he remained on the carriage for around four hours.

But last night Cheshire Police said they had no evidence to support suggestions the man had been abducted, and no formal complaint had been made to them.

The man was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport but, due to the seriousness of his injuries, was transferred to the specialist burns unit at Wythenshawe Hospital, Greater Manchester, where last night his condition was said to be comfortable.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said they were working with British Transport Police to establish how the man became to be on the train.

A woman, believed to be known to the man, has been interviewed by officers.

It had been suggested the man suffered his injuries after grabbing a 25,000-volt overhead power cables above the train tracks to break his fall into the carriage. News-paper reports claimed yesterday the victim had told family members he was kidnapped by two men, who were lying in wait for him as he went to meet a woman.

After bundling him into the boot of a car and driving for several hours, they are alleged to have dangled him by his ankles from the railway bridge, before dropping him on to the freight train.

A police spokesman said last night officers could account for some of the events of Friday evening, and added: “None of which, including evidential material, support the theory he was abducted at any stage.”

lizawilliams