Tribute has been paid to a beloved grandfather who died in a tragic railway accident.

Railway worker Kevin Mauger, from Eastleigh, was crushed by a six-tonne track during an unplanned deep clean of a welding machine. He died at the scene.

His employer, Network Rail, was fined £1.2m over a number of health and safety failings that led to the 53-year-old's death. 

Kevin has left behind five children and eight grandchildren. He never met his youngest grandchild, who was born the day after he died.

(Image: Supplied)

The inquest into his death has concluded, with his death being ruled an 'accident'.

His daughter, Charley Deacon, remembers her father as being the centre of her family, a devoted man proud of his work.

She said: "He was just an all-around great dad, husband and grandfather.

"He was only young, and he had so many more years of memories to make. He loved his family unconditionally.

"He would do anything for anybody. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about him. He was such a generous person who was friends with everybody.

"He was the heart of the family. His absence now is heartbreaking.

"He loved going to watch football, he loved spending time with his family; that is what he lived for."

(Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Network Rail Eastleigh depot death: Wife's heart-breaking statement

He has eight grandkids, one of whom he didn't meet; his youngest was born 16 hours after he died.

"It is really sad. It was just really heartbreaking that he missed him by just hours," said Charley."

Kevin Mauger had been carrying out an unplanned deep clean of a welding machine at the Eastleigh depot when he died.

Investigations by HSE following the accident found that it was "wholly unavoidable" and caused by the company's failure to "implement safe systems of work".

Charley told how her father was "proud" to work for Network Rail but said it was "sad" the company was found responsible for his death.

"You could say a thousand words, but to sum him up, he was just the heart of our whole family and gave his time to all five of his kids and my mum.

"We all miss him very much. It is still raw every day."

Kevin was married to his wife Rachael for more than 30 years and was an avid Saints fan. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.