TUBE HERO DIES SAVING FRIEND
LONDONER, 35, HIT BY TRAIN AS HE TRIES TO PULL PAL OFF TRACKS AFTER NIGHT OUT
A HERO Londoner died as he tried to pluck his friend to safety from the tracks at Old Street Tube station before both were struck by a train.
Passengers watched in horror as the Northern line service ploughed into the pair, in a “tragic accident” as they made their way home after a night out.
The 35-year-old man desperately tried to pull his friend onto the platform but suffered severe head injuries and died soon after. The friend, aged 32, is fighting for his life in hospital. It was claimed that he may have been trying to recover an item such as a mobile phone or wallet.
Witness Josie Griffiths said: “One man was under the Tube but responding. People were crying, it was such a horrific scene. It is so terrible to hear that someone has died.
“The atmosphere on the platform turned from happy night out to very grim. I just did not want to look.”
Another person at the scene, Jamie Eastlake, tweeted: “Looks like someone has gone under the Tube at Old Street. Terrifying.” Another tweet said: “That person was trying to save someone on the tracks and they were both hit.”
The Tube driver was said to be in shock and will be offered counselling. British Transport Police are not treating the incident, which happened at 12.20am on Sunday, as suspicious. A BTP spokesman said an investigation had been
launched. A Tube worker claimed today: “The man dropped something down onto the track, a mobile phone or something, and then somehow he’s got into trouble down there.
“This other person then tried to help him out and pull him up back onto the platform in time before the train came, but it wasn’t in time and they both got hit.”
Another said: “The person who tried to help him was hit as they were leaning over, and trying to help him back up. It was really tragic. It happened at the back of the platform, just as the train pulls in, so maybe they didn’t realise how close the train was.”
In its statement, the BTP said: “On arrival, officers discovered two men on the tracks with serious injuries. The men, one aged 32 from Manchester and the other aged 35 from London, were treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service and then taken to Royal London Hospital .
“The 35-year-old man from London died in hospital later that day. The 32year-old from Manchester remains in a stable, but critical, condition.
“The man’s family has been informed and we have a trained officer providing them with support at this time.”
Transport for London said: “Two men were involved in a collision with a train on the southbound track. Emergency services attended. We are working with police on a thorough investigation.”
Earlier this month a woman was pulled to safety after she fell onto the tracks at Clapham South station, also on the Northern Line, during rushhour. The incident triggered calls for a review of safety on London Underground platforms.
Mick Cash, leader of the RMT union, said: “We await the outcome of the investigations into the tragic incident at Old Street, which once again reminds us of the ever-present dangers across the network. We understand that the incident happened late at night just before close of service.”