Train victim died saving pet dog

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A holidaymaker was hit by a train and killed as she tried to save her pet dog at an unguarded crossing in Devon, an inquest has heard.
The dog was sitting by the body of Christina Woodman, 45, from Seven Sisters, south Wales, when emergency services arrived on the scene.
She was staying at Half Moon Village, near Exeter, when she died on the crossing near Cowley Bridge last year.
Deputy Exeter coroner Mr Darren Salter said the death was a tragic accident.
The care worker, who was out walking her two dogs Flush and Brock, died instantly when she was hit by the train as she tried to move Flush away from the crossing.
Both dogs survived but Mrs Woodman suffered serious head injuries and was declared dead at the scene.

For full details of this sad story, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8040799.stm

[devon_metro]

Further highlights how dangerous railways are, so never walk on them unless you can guarantee that you are safe in walking across whatever the circumstances.

[inspector_blakey]

...I'm sure this was implied in your post d_m, but it goes without saying you must never cross anywhere other than an authorized crossing point (level/footpath crossing etc). Anything else is railway trespass, a criminal offence carrying a maximum ^1000 penalty.

Unfortunately this is a sad story that happens all too often: foolhardy dog owner tries to rescue dog from railway line. Of course I completely understand why they're trying to rescue their beloved pet, but almost invariably the dog avoids the train quite happily. Sadly the same is not always true of the owner.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm sorry to dwell on such a sad subject, but I think it is indeed worth emphasizing.

I've always told our son to be aware of traffic, crossing the road - and of trains, when we used to walk our dog along a footpath, crossing over the railway line near here.  In fact, if I saw any indication of a distant train approaching, while we were on that public footpath crossing the track, I used to raise an arm in acknowledgement - and shepherd the family and dog off the track, ASAP!  I often got what I would like to think was an appreciative toot on the horn from the train driver ... 

[Brusselier]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A holidaymaker was hit by a train and killed as she tried to save her pet dog at an unguarded crossing in Devon, an inquest has heard.
The dog was sitting by the body of Christina Woodman, 45, from Seven Sisters, south Wales, when emergency services arrived on the scene.
She was staying at Half Moon Village, near Exeter, when she died on the crossing near Cowley Bridge last year.

For full details of this sad story, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8040799.stm

Having read the "Seven Sisters, South Wales" bit, I didn't pay attention to the name when I first read the post, but Mrs Woodman was in fact local to the Crediton area but had moved north of the channel.

Unfortunately this is a sad story that happens all too often: foolhardy dog owner tries to rescue dog from railway line. Of course I completely understand why they're trying to rescue their beloved pet, but almost invariably the dog avoids the train quite happily. Sadly the same is not always true of the owner.

It just goes to show anybody can have their moments, She was otherwise a sensible and switched on person. I lived next door to her for several years.

I'm led to believe that the driver considered her to be sufficiently out of the way, but then came the 'thump'

I've been in the front carriage of a 375 when it hit somebody between Maidstone and Ashford (Kent) once, not pleasant at all. Given the sight of the guard that went back the line to check, I can only imagine the impact that this has on railway staff.

Brusselier

*hoping not to have a flat wheel on his Carriage this coming week!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for that rather personal contribution, Brusselier. 

I won't labour the point any more by quoting from it here, but further details from the inquest into that particular incident are at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5297333/Woman-killed-by-train-as-she-tried-to-save-her-dog.html