Durham man dies of injuries, a week after electric train shock (11 Sep 2010)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

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

Durham man survives electric train shock

A man who climbed on top of a train to retrieve a shoe survived a 25,000 volts electric shock, police said.

The 23-year-old suffered severe burns and was thrown onto the track at Durham railway station on Saturday.

It is believed the man, from Cornforth, County Durham, was a Newcastle United fan who had travelled to the team's 2-0 home defeat against Blackpool.

He is critically ill but stable with 40% burns, British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) said.

A spokesman for BTP said he was given a huge shock from the live, overhead power lines.

It is believed he was travelling alone and officers are trying to find out how his shoe ended up on top of the train.

Sgt Nigel Ashworth, of BTP, said: "Officers have launched an investigation into how the shoe came to be on top of the carriage.

"The area was busy at the time, and we are keen to hear from anyone who may have been on the train or at the station at the time of the incident."

He added that the man was "lucky to be alive" but would now need to be assessed by a plastic surgeon.

"The overhead cables carry 25,000 volts and are always live. Trespassing on the railway and climbing onto the outside of trains is extremely dangerous, as this incident shows."

Edit note: In view of the subsequent sad development on this topic, I've amended the heading. Chris. 

[inspector_blakey]

Just finished picking my jaw up off the desk. Abject stupidity doesn't even begin to cover it! In the circumstances that is one exceedingly lucky guy...

[Tim]

Good grief.  It's not that easy to climb onto a train roof anyway.  Migth I assume that alcohol was taken. 

[inspector_blakey]

I think that alcohol is a reasonable assumption! Actually not that difficult to climb onto the roof of certain types of stock (older equipment at least was often designed that way for maintenance purposes) but I'll leave it at that just in case any simpletons reading this decide to give it a go

[Chris from Nailsea]

Update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Train climb man dies after 25,000 volt electric shock

A man who suffered a 25,000 volt electric shock when he climbed on top of a train to retrieve a shoe has died.

Andrew Minto, 23, of Cornforth, in County Durham, touched overhead cables and was thrown on to the track at Durham station on 11 September.

He suffered severe burns and British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) said he died in hospital on Saturday.

BTP said no-one else was believed to have been involved in the incident.

They said Mr Minto was given a huge shock from the overhead power lines. He suffered 40% burns.

Officers have been trying to find out how his shoe ended up on top of the train but are not treating it as suspicious.

Sgt Nigel Ashworth said: "This is a tragic accident which saw a young man lose his life on the rail line. Our thoughts are with the man's family and friends at this difficult time."

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out on Tuesday.

It is believed Mr Minto was a Newcastle United fan who had travelled to the team's 2-0 defeat against Blackpool.

He worked on the marketing team at Durham County Council.

The council's head of libraries, learning and culture, Rosemary Laxton, said: "Andrew was a popular and valued member of staff and we are deeply saddened by his death. He will be very much missed by his friends and colleagues at the council as well as our elected members. Our thoughts are with his family at this upsetting time."

Edit note: In view of the subsequent sad development on this topic, I've amended the heading. Chris.