Stockwell tube passenger critically injured after being 'hit in head' by train

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/10/stockwell-tube-passenger-hit-train

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A man is in a critical condition after reportedly being hit on the head by a rush-hour tube train as he bent down to pick up his bag.

Commuters watched in horror as the man, believed to be in his 20s, was struck by a Northern line train at Stockwell station in south London at about 9am. The station, which also serves the Victoria line, was shut while medics tended to the passenger who was later taken to hospital.

Passenger Chris Duncan tweeted: “Was on this train. Awful. Man hit in the head by oncoming Tube train in horrific accident.”

Isabelle Zonderland told the Evening Standard: “I was on the tube when it happened. He got hit only metres from our carriage. When we were let off the tube I saw him lying there. Someone who I believe was on the platform was checking for a pulse. His face was covered in blood.”

Actor Raj Lucas told the Standard: “I was about midway on the platform and the tube was pulling in and suddenly I heard screams from the start of the platform. The people closer to the incident (who saw it) were visibly very distressed.”

Nick Brown, London Underground’s chief operating officer, said: “Just before 9am a passenger on a Northern line platform was struck by a train entering Stockwell station. Our emergency response team and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene.

“We are investigating the incident to understand exactly what happened but we have already established that while the station was busy, the platform was not overcrowded.”

The accident came after last month’s tragic incident in which Londoner Nick Mann, 35, died of severe head injuries when he attempted to save his 32-year-old brother Robert from being struck by a train at Old Street tube station. Robert Mann remains in hospital.

Earlier in the month, on March 12, a rush-hour passenger was dragged along Clapham South tube station in south London after getting her coat caught in a train door.

The woman ended up falling into the gap between two carriages of the Northern line train and was taken to hospital with serious arm and head injuries. The incident is being investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.