MOVING TRAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 13

MOVING TRAIN

LATE COMER'S DASH

CRITICALLY INJURED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, January -2

Shocking injuries to his left leg and arm and chest were received by Andrew Wilson, aged 17£ years, Manunui, when he attempted to board the Taumarunui excursion train as it moved out of the New Plymouth railWay station on Sunday at 5.6 p.m. After being picked up from the track when the train nad passed, he was rushed by ambulance to hospital, where his condition today was reported to be critical. .

The train had started and was travelling at about ten miles an hour when Wilson, carrying a parcel under his right arm, sprinted through the eastern entrance to the station and made a dash for the front of the third from last carriage. Despite a warnning shout from a station official, he jumped towards thr> step of the carriage, but missed his grip of the hand rail with his left hand and collided heavily with the moving train. The impact threw him full-length on to the station platform /.with his legs projecting over the edge. As a result his feet were struck by the rearward cars as they passed, and, rolling. over, he was dragged off the platform to fall on the side of the ; track. Because of a curve in the track, it, was not possible for the engine crew to see what had happened.

The train was brought to a, standstiir*withih 100 yards or so, apparently as thp result of a signal or application of the emergency brake.

Amputation of both the left leg and left arm was found necessary at the hospital.

Wilson had come from Manunui on the excursion train to spend a day at Ngamotu Beach.