THE family of a Teignmouth mum-of-three who was killed on the railway line as she tried to rescue a pet dog want to highlight the dangers of walking along the Teignmouth sea wall.

Debra Rathbone, 42, was stuck by a train on Saturday in an attempt to rescue the dog that had strayed on to the track near Sprey Point. Now her husband, Giles, wants others to come forward if they know of or have experienced similar incidences. Mr Rathbone, who described his wife as 'everybody's rock', said that 'she would not have wanted anyone else to die in the same tragic way'. The railway is bounded by a wall of two to three feet high, but should be re-constructed to stop dogs or children from climbing over the edge. 'I am aware that it is one of the most beautiful parts of the railway network and I do not want to see it fenced in, but there does need to be more done to stop dogs or children from straying over,' he said. Mr rathbone would like to get in touch with one dog walker who left a tribute at the scene to a 'K9 hero.'She said that she, too, had walked on to the track to retrieve a pet dog. 'This wall needs raising,' she wrote. But a British transport police spokesman said that the safety record on the stretch of walkway was 'pretty good. 'This was a tragic set of circumstances and I have a great deal of sympathy, but the railway is a dangerous environment and people should not go onto the tracks, he said. The family and many friends of Debra have been devastated at the loss of a woman described as beautiful, elegant and larger than life. Younger sister Brenda said that when Debra walked into a room, 'the lights came on.' Debra had been organising a celebration weekend to mark Brenda's 40th birthday. She had spent weeks organising the bash for friends and family travelled from all over Devon and Southampton. She and her sister had taken the dogs for a walk at about 8am when tragedy struck. Both Debra and Brenda checked for oncoming trains and leapt over the sea wall to retrieve the dog. They heard the sound of a train approaching and sheltered close to the sea wall. Debra was struck by a local service train travelling from Exmouth to Paignton. Debra was a qualified interior designer and devoted the past few years renovating the family home in Higher Brimley. She was dedicated to her family; sister Brenda, brother Gerald, daughters Toyah, 24, Toni, 22, Terri, 18, stepsons Ben and Matthew and granddaughters Chloe, Lavina and Emily. She had a great many friends and was a well-known face at The Ship Inn. Landlady Kim Jones said that she was a very dear friend. 'She was vivacious and fun-loving and everybody loved her,' she said. Friends Daniel and Lisa Ross remember a caring woman who went out of her way to help. 'She always put others first and I will never forget the great efforts she went to for us,' said Mr Ross.' Many friends left tributes at the scene. Kerry, Mark, Marcus and Charlie wrote: 'caring and honest, thoughtful and kind, just some of your qualities that spring to mind.'