THE young man killed by a high-speed train yesterday was a father-of-three visiting from Ireland, close family members have said.

Two cousins said the victim, originally from Romania, was just 20 years old and was due to return home today.

He was a passenger in the car, they said, and ran "because he was scared".

His young children, all under five years old, his girlfriend and his mother and father reportedly arrived in Enfield today.

One of the cousins, 31, said: "I think the police may have been chasing because the car wasn't insured or taxed or something. But he was just a passenger. He probably ran because he was scared.

"He had come over from Ireland for a week and was due to go back today.

"He has three kids, two girls and a boy, and is a devoted family man. I think he must have just panicked when he saw the police. He wasn't a bad man, he was very good.

"His parents are very upset, as you can imagine. What can you say about losing someone like that?"

The victim, who has not yet been formally identified, was in a silver Mercedes CLK 230 with two men when officers tried to stop the car in Ordnance Road at around 5.30pm yesterday.

The trio fled but were forced to abandon the vehicle when they reached the Enfield Lock level crossing.

The victim was hit by the northbound Stansted Express and pronounced dead at the scene.

The other two men, aged 21 and 22, were arrested.