Mother saves young son from falling onto exposed wheels of moving train
AN investigation has been launched after a mother and her young son discovered the floor of a train toilet compartment was missing.
After opening the door she caught hold of the boy to stop him falling on to the exposed train wheels, according to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).
They were both reportedly left shocked and the child suffered minor bruising, investigators said.
The incident occurred on the South Devon Railway (SDR) steam heritage line between Staverton and Buckfastleigh on June 22 as the train was travelling at around 20mph.
Engineers had dismantled the floor to access the carriage’s braking system for repairs.
Staff had placed a notice on the compartment door
Engineers had dismantled the floor for repairs.
and attempted to secure it to prevent it being opened, but “this had not been effective”, the RAIB said.
Over 100,000 people visit SDR each year.
A spokesman for the attraction said: “The South Devon Railway takes this incident extremely seriously in which safety
on a moving train was badly compromised and that could have resulted in serious injury to a female passenger and her young son. We regret this incident took place and wish to apologise to the lady and family involved for the trauma which they suffered.” A PROBLEM drinker who inflicted horrific violence on a string of women was yesterday given one of the longest sentences ever handed out in Scotland’s sheriff courts.
Derek McLaren was given a 10-year extended sentence – five years in jail and five on licence once he is released – the maximum possible term in the sheriff court.
McLaren, who has a string of previous domestic abuse convictions, targeted four women between June 1999 and August last year.
In one series of horror assaults he pinned down his then-pregnant girlfriend and repeatedly punched her on the head. She later miscarried.
Fiscal depute Vicki Bell told Dundee Sheriff Court his first victim had been in a relationship with him