Gumleaf
September 30th, 2008, 06:42 AM
Antonia Magee
September 29, 2008 12:00am
A TEENAGE boy's leg was severed when he fell under a train at Eltham station on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old fell on to the tracks between two carriages about 9.45pm.
Police said the boy and a friend had been standing between the carriages when the train pulled into the station.
His friend jumped safely on to the platform, but the injured boy jumped in the other direction, hit a fence, and bounced back under the carriage.
The train pulled out while he was on the tracks, trapping him and severing his leg at the knee.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman Ray Rowe said the boy was lucky to have survived the shocking accident.
"His leg has been severed, and it's surprising that he didn't sustain life-threatening injuries, given the circumstances," ambulance spokesman Ray Rowe said.
Paramedics had had difficulty stabilising the boy, because he was trapped under the train, he said.
Sgt Grant Mitchell, from Eltham police, also said the boy was fortunate to have survived the tragic accident.
"It must have been very distressing for everybody who was there, and for the emergency crews who arrived to help him," Sgt Mitchell said.
He said it looked as though the boys had been skylarking.
"He should have known that something could go wrong, and that he could have been seriously injured or killed," Sgt Mitchell said.
"We have to get through to kids that there are times in your life when you have to consider what you are doing.
"I just feel for his family. It would have been a shocking phone call to get."
Connex spokeswoman Kate De Clercq said the company would be investigating.
"We will review the CCTV footage and talk to the driver," Ms De Clercq said.
"The driver will also be offered counselling."
Train services on the Hurstbridge line were cancelled after the accident.
The boy was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious condition.
A hospital spokesman said yesterday afternoon that he was in a stable condition.
September 29, 2008 12:00am
A TEENAGE boy's leg was severed when he fell under a train at Eltham station on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old fell on to the tracks between two carriages about 9.45pm.
Police said the boy and a friend had been standing between the carriages when the train pulled into the station.
His friend jumped safely on to the platform, but the injured boy jumped in the other direction, hit a fence, and bounced back under the carriage.
The train pulled out while he was on the tracks, trapping him and severing his leg at the knee.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman Ray Rowe said the boy was lucky to have survived the shocking accident.
"His leg has been severed, and it's surprising that he didn't sustain life-threatening injuries, given the circumstances," ambulance spokesman Ray Rowe said.
Paramedics had had difficulty stabilising the boy, because he was trapped under the train, he said.
Sgt Grant Mitchell, from Eltham police, also said the boy was fortunate to have survived the tragic accident.
"It must have been very distressing for everybody who was there, and for the emergency crews who arrived to help him," Sgt Mitchell said.
He said it looked as though the boys had been skylarking.
"He should have known that something could go wrong, and that he could have been seriously injured or killed," Sgt Mitchell said.
"We have to get through to kids that there are times in your life when you have to consider what you are doing.
"I just feel for his family. It would have been a shocking phone call to get."
Connex spokeswoman Kate De Clercq said the company would be investigating.
"We will review the CCTV footage and talk to the driver," Ms De Clercq said.
"The driver will also be offered counselling."
Train services on the Hurstbridge line were cancelled after the accident.
The boy was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious condition.
A hospital spokesman said yesterday afternoon that he was in a stable condition.