Double fatalities

[whole diary]

[old original]

1V42 0610 Derby - Plymouth hit a person at Starcross this morning. The empty stock, 5Z42, then did the same near Bridgwater this afternoon whilst working back to Bristol.

[Dispatch Box]

1V42 0610 Derby - Plymouth hit a person at Starcross this morning. The empty stock, 5Z42, then did the same near Bridgwater this afternoon whilst working back to Bristol.

Why are we getting trains hitting people, why are they getting in the way?.

[phile]

1V42 0610 Derby - Plymouth hit a person at Starcross this morning. The empty stock, 5Z42, then did the same near Bridgwater this afternoon whilst working back to Bristol.

Why are we getting trains hitting people, why are they getting in the way?.

With due respect, I don't think a comment like that is appropriate when tragedy and possible mental health issues are
involved.     

[Dispatch Box]

1V42 0610 Derby - Plymouth hit a person at Starcross this morning. The empty stock, 5Z42, then did the same near Bridgwater this afternoon whilst working back to Bristol.

Why are we getting trains hitting people, why are they getting in the way?.

With due respect, I don't think a comment like that is appropriate when tragedy and possible mental health issues are
involved.     

I actually suffer with some of those, but do not go in front of trains, it's distressing for drivers.

[grahame]

I believe both are confirmed as fatalities - two lives tragically and I suspect needlessly lost.   Individual fatalities attributed "person hit by train" are far too common; they happen more days than not in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). And most of them (but we do not know about the two today) are suicides.   What makes today's unusual is that it was the same physical train  on the same day - and I have no reason to suspect that was anything other than an awful co-incidence.

May I point newer forum members at http://www.passenger.chat/6526 . It's a thread that the admin and moderator team put together a while back (and have revised since) to provide information / guidance / help to all our forum member, if and however they're involved is such a tragedy.  And can I also suggest a re-read of http://www.passenger.chat/20726 .

Swindon Samaritans is encouraging commuters at train stations to act if they notice someone who may be at risk.

A new phase of the Small Talk Saves Lives campaign, launched by Samaritans in partnership with British Transport Police, Network Rail and the wider rail industry, is emphasising how each of us has all the experience we need to help save a life.

Perhaps there is a "virtual" side to that too - I know of others (who I have not seen around this evening) who I know have been helped in a small way by the hand of friendship this forum brings.  That makes me feel very nervous; it's a high stakes thing - a very brave step for someone to to step in and offer such friendship just as it's a brave step for someone to ask or admit they need help.  Please don't let any fall-out over words prevent members from taking a brave step - but please is you're taking a brave step to reach out to someone call in / call on expert to help both of you as soon as it's practical.

[TonyK]

Two awful incidents. I feel for the friends and families suffering such a loss, as well as for the drivers and others involved.

[grahame]

Daily Mail following up the story ... snipped some of their more lurid description.

The train hit two people in Devon and  Somerset on January 17 of this year
It was involved in a fatal collision early in the day in Powderham Starcross
Then later it hit Gary Tippetts, 60, from Highbridge, who walked into its path

[snip]

Tony Williams, the senior coroner for Somerset, recorded a conclusion of suicide.