Boy, 12, critical after suffering serious burns on rail tracks

[mikeg]

A 12-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering severe electrical burns on railway lines near Doncaster.
The schoolboy was injured close to South Elmsall on Monday evening.
The British Transport police said officers and paramedics were called after reports of a person on the tracks just before 6.15pm.
Officers are believed to be investigating claims that a group of children were playing on a bridge before one fell on to the tracks.
A spokesman for the British Transport police said an investigation had been launched into how the boy came to be on the line.
The force said: “We attended alongside paramedics and a 12-year-old boy was treated by paramedics for serious electrical burns. He was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.”
Rail passengers experienced long delays to the busy rush-hour service between Leeds and Sheffield.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the British Transport police by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 and quoting 412 of 03/10/2016.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/04/boy-12-in-critical-condition-after-being-electrocuted-on-railway-tracks-doncaster

A few questions regarding the electric shock aspect: How did this come to be? There is no third rail on this section, so was he shocked by the tracks floating slightly above earth due to an oncoming or passed train? I imagine it would all be very well bonded. Would the track circuit be enough to give one a shock? Or is it because he fell off a bridge and caused a brief arc to occur from the OHLE? I suppose we'll not know exactly and my thoughts are with the poor lad, but I do wonder how it happened.

 

[edwin_m]

With the mention of playing on a bridge, it is most likely he came into contact with the OLE and then (possibly for that reason) fell onto the track. There is no dangerous voltage at rail level unless something has gone badly wrong with the bonding.

 

[ComUtoR]

Red bond maybe ? Can that give you a shock ?

 

[najaB]

I do wonder how it happened.

You can only be shocked if you provide a path to earth - witness birds sitting on high-voltage lines with impunity. So he must have been in contact with both the HV line and something grounded at the same time. A guess would be that he grabbed for something as he fell - possibly a support sanction?

 

[tellytype]

Simple & easy solution: Where the hell were the parents or other responsible person? Bare facts are no person should be on the tracks or anywhere near the OHLE unless they're working there or on a train - kid, adult or otherwise. It's a very dangerous place. If he was on a bridge, he would've had to climb quite some hurdle to get over the top. Even if this was a coming home from school incident, it is clear the individual concerned isn't sensible enough to be out alone if they aren't bright enough to figure what might befall them if they Pratt around on a rail bridge.

Appears to me typical of today's screwed up society - let them run riot & ignore them then panic & act all surprised & outrage when something horrible happens or God forbid someone with backbone tells them off. When I was 12 I wouldn't have been allowed to do this or get anywhere near, even if I'd wanted to.

 

[Deepgreen]

If playing on a bridge is involved on an OHLE-, not third rail-, equipped line, then surely 99.99...% likely that OHLE plus support structure/other wires provided the shock.

 

[dtaylor84]

Simple & easy solution: Where the hell were the parents or other responsible person?

That's not a solution, it's a question.

 

[DarloRich]

Simple & easy solution: Where the hell were the parents or other responsible person? Bare facts are no person should be on the tracks or anywhere near the OHLE unless they're working there or on a train - kid, adult or otherwise. It's a very dangerous place. If he was on a bridge, he would've had to climb quite some hurdle to get over the top. Even if this was a coming home from school incident, it is clear the individual concerned isn't sensible enough to be out alone if they aren't bright enough to figure what might befall them if they Pratt around on a rail bridge.

Appears to me typical of today's screwed up society - let them run riot & ignore them then panic & act all surprised & outrage when something horrible happens or God forbid someone with backbone tells them off. When I was 12 I wouldn't have been allowed to do this or get anywhere near, even if I'd wanted to.

Of course as a child i assume you never did anything wrong..............

(wondering how much experience you have of children and what they can be like and how helpful the usual 1950's wails are to those involved)

 

[bramling]

Of course as a child i assume you never did anything wrong..............

(wondering how much experience you have of children and what they can be like and how helpful the usual 1950's wails are to those involved)

I can guarantee that as a 12-year-old I understood the hazards posted by both electricity and heights.

 

[thelem]

Simple & easy solution: Where the hell were the parents or other responsible person?

A 12 year old should be mature enough not to require constant supervision and needs to be trusted so that they will grow up to be an independent adult. I'm sure he will have been told about the dangers of playing on the railway, but people don't always do what they are told. Let's hope he makes a good recovery and he can just be a good example to his peers of how real the dangers are.

 

[Phil.]

Simple & easy solution: Where the hell were the parents or other responsible person? Bare facts are no person should be on the tracks or anywhere near the OHLE unless they're working there or on a train - kid, adult or otherwise. It's a very dangerous place. If he was on a bridge, he would've had to climb quite some hurdle to get over the top. Even if this was a coming home from school incident, it is clear the individual concerned isn't sensible enough to be out alone if they aren't bright enough to figure what might befall them if they Pratt around on a rail bridge.

Appears to me typical of today's screwed up society - let them run riot & ignore them then panic & act all surprised & outrage when something horrible happens or God forbid someone with backbone tells them off. When I was 12 I wouldn't have been allowed to do this or get anywhere near, even if I'd wanted to.

I'm guessing that you are not a parent. If you were you'd realise what a self important priggish question, "where were the parents..." is.

 

[DarloRich]

I can guarantee that as a 12-year-old I understood the hazards posted by both electricity and heights.

I am sure you did. You, however, are not everyone. I am also sure you never did anything wrong as a child or took any silly risk. I know I did.

The point being that it doesn't really matter if the poor kid knew the dangers or not. He is still in a bad way. Being sanctimonious or self righteous wont change that, help him or stop it happening again.

 

[yorkie]

Simple & easy solution: Where the hell were the parents or other responsible person?

Most young people that age are not going to be supervised 24/7! Nor would it be good for them to be. At that age (1990s) I was cycling from York to Riccall on my own, and was able to make rail journeys on my own, I had been going to/from school on my own for a while, and was able to go into town on their own. Anyone that age who has to be accompanied 24/7 has a sheltered life that is not good for them. I am guessing you don't know many young people that age?

I've seen youngsters playing at OHLE site underneath a bridge in the area, I think possibly the A6201 bridge, both from passing trains and also by walking underneath myself (walking from Hemsworth to Upton, mostly along a disused railway line, with various other forum members). Wouldn't surprise me if it was the same spot.

 

[najaB]

I can guarantee that as a 12-year-old I understood the hazards posted by both electricity and heights.

At 12, especially with a group of peers, I wouldn't be surprised if their actions were driven *specifically* by the knowledge of the danger. Children - particularly boys - of that age are well known for 'playing chicken'.

It's a developmental stage that we all went through as they haven't yet learned to fully risk assess their actions. Looking at it coldly, some would say that it is an evolutionary benefit - weed out the weak, clumsy and slow before they become a burden/risk to the tribe.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Appears to me typical of today's screwed up society - let them run riot & ignore them then panic & act all surprised & outrage when something horrible happens or God forbid someone with backbone tells them off. When I was 12 I wouldn't have been allowed to do this or get anywhere near, even if I'd wanted to.

Oh for the love of all that is holy, "today's screwed up society"? Stop seeing things through rose tinted glasses. I suppose that's why "The Finishing Line" was made in 1977. Because kids back then never trespassed on the line or threw stones at trains. They were perfect little angels.

Either way, I did some absolutely stupid things when I was twelve that I now deeply regret, so I have my fullest sympathies for the child - for that's what he is, a child. Some people are too sanctimonious here for their own good. I hope he recovers fully from this, his family must be going through hell.

 

[bramling]

The area concerned is pretty deprived, exhibiting many of the social issues associated with such areas -- for example groups of bored unsupervised kids hanging around not doing anything constructive. This section of line certainly sees more than its fair share of trespass and vandalism, stonethrowing etc.

 

[Cowley]

Oh for the love of all that is holy, "today's screwed up society"? Stop seeing things through rose tinted glasses. I suppose that's why "The Finishing Line" was made in 1977. Because kids back then never trespassed on the line or threw stones at trains. They were perfect little angels.

Either way, I did some absolutely stupid things when I was twelve that I now deeply regret, so I have my fullest sympathies for the child - for that's what he is, a child. Some people are too sanctimonious here for their own good. I hope he recovers fully from this, his family must be going through hell.

Very well said.

 

[A0]

Simple & easy solution: Where the hell were the parents or other responsible person? Bare facts are no person should be on the tracks or anywhere near the OHLE unless they're working there or on a train - kid, adult or otherwise. It's a very dangerous place. If he was on a bridge, he would've had to climb quite some hurdle to get over the top. Even if this was a coming home from school incident, it is clear the individual concerned isn't sensible enough to be out alone if they aren't bright enough to figure what might befall them if they Pratt around on a rail bridge.

Appears to me typical of today's screwed up society - let them run riot & ignore them then panic & act all surprised & outrage when something horrible happens or God forbid someone with backbone tells them off. When I was 12 I wouldn't have been allowed to do this or get anywhere near, even if I'd wanted to.

Sorry - but kids have been playing on railway lines for years in spite of the dangers, it's not new, it's got sod all to do with 'modern parenting' or anything like it.

My late paternal grandfather recounted making matchboxes of gunpowder and placing them on the railway line for an engine to run over - that and putting pennies on the line to see them squashed.

The difference is nowadays, much much more of the railway network is fenced off or protected. Add in faster, quieter trains and electrification equipment and the hazards are different to those in place in the 1920s or 1950s.

Sadly some children have been maimed or killed playing on the railway line, but to pretend it's somehow a recent phenomenon or a result of different parenting to previous times is wrong.

 

[Johnuk123]

Sorry - but kids have been playing on railway lines for years in spite of the dangers, it's not new, it's got sod all to do with 'modern parenting' or anything like it.

My late paternal grandfather recounted making matchboxes of gunpowder and placing them on the railway line for an engine to run over - that and putting pennies on the line to see them squashed.

The difference is nowadays, much much more of the railway network is fenced off or protected. Add in faster, quieter trains and electrification equipment and the hazards are different to those in place in the 1920s or 1950s.

Sadly some children have been maimed or killed playing on the railway line, but to pretend it's somehow a recent phenomenon or a result of different parenting to previous times is wrong.

I well remember putting pennies on the line, we rarely found them later as they had shot off somewhere. When I was 12 I was travelling all over the country with mates sometimes away for 2 nights, bunking sheds being chased out by the foreman sometimes often sleeping on stations and in carriages in sidings..
Anybody who really thinks children that age can be supervised constantly is deluded.

 

[6Gman]

Oh for the love of all that is holy, "today's screwed up society"? Stop seeing things through rose tinted glasses. I suppose that's why "The Finishing Line" was made in 1977. Because kids back then never trespassed on the line or threw stones at trains. They were perfect little angels.

Either way, I did some absolutely stupid things when I was twelve that I now deeply regret, so I have my fullest sympathies for the child - for that's what he is, a child. Some people are too sanctimonious here for their own good. I hope he recovers fully from this, his family must be going through hell.

Quite.

Incidentally, when I was travelling round a lot in the late 70s stone throwing was commonplace (I recall travelling through one Birmingham suburb where I saw stones being thrown on 5 occasions in 7 journeys!). These days I can't recall the last time I saw any stone throwing. Certainly not saying it doesn't happen, but in my experience it's less prevalent than 40 years ago.

 

[PermitToTravel]

Red bond maybe ? Can that give you a shock ?

Extremely unlikely.

 

[GB]

The boy climbed the outside of the bridge and was sitting on top with his feet hanging over when he received the shock and fell to the ground.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The area concerned is pretty deprived, exhibiting many of the social issues associated with such areas -- for example groups of bored unsupervised kids hanging around not doing anything constructive. This section of line certainly sees more than its fair share of trespass and vandalism, stonethrowing etc.

Perhaps I've been lucky, but the only times I've been on a train that had stones thrown at it were near Formby in Merseyside and near Claygate in Surrey- both very prosperous, well-to-do areas!

Apologies for the off-topic, but perhaps think about WHY the area between Wakefield and Doncaster is so deprived?

 

[thejuggler]

The boy climbed the outside of the bridge and was sitting on top with his feet hanging over when he received the shock and fell to the ground.

The bridge is actually a cage so you can't get over the sides and dangle your feet from the parapet.

The only way is to climb over the barrier alongside the walkway before the bridge them shimmy along the outside of the bridge structure. Arcing is a real possibility if this is what he did.

 

[J-2739]

Could the fact that the rail is part of the circuit be a contributor to the burns?

Perhaps I've been lucky, but the only times I've been on a train that had stones thrown at it were near Formby in Merseyside and near Claygate in Surrey- both very prosperous, well-to-do areas!

Apologies for the off-topic, but perhaps think about WHY the area between Wakefield and Doncaster is so deprived?

I live in South Yorkshire and regularly go up to West Yorkshire, and the differences are big. Even the shantytowns of WY seem like public gardens compared to SY. This could be down to the Miners Strike and loss of local industries that put many in unemployment, which in turn, made them turn to crime. WY has probably done better off since.[/OT]

 

[backontrack]

Seeing as this has been completely forgotten:

Thoughts go out to the child as well as all his family. I hope he makes a full recovery.

That's what's important right now.

 

[route:oxford]

Isn't chav more of a South East term? Have to agree though.

More international now I think with the evolution of meanings. I heard it used recently by a ZA resident as an acronym for people who need assistance:-

Cripples
Handicappeds
And
Vulnerables

I don't think it'll take off in the UK...

 

[Stampy]

On a visit to South Elmshall last year to watch the Frickley Athletic v Stamford game - whilst waiting on the platform for the train back home - saw some youths on the opposite platform playing "chicken" with passing trains, and one trying to poke the overhead pylon with a stick.....

Until one of his "colleagues" pointed out he'd get fried....

They then (about a minute or so before MY train back to Doncaster) came over to the platform I was on, and got on the same train as me - before legging it off the train again at one of the stops when they saw the guard coming down the train..

It does look a very deprived area...

 

[fowler9]

I went to a wedding in the area a couple of years back and it looked rough as a badgers ar*e. And I'm from Liverpool.

 

[Busaholic]

The cricketer Tom Maynard was electrocuted on the railway a few years ago, and he wasn't 12, or a 'chav'. He'd been under the influence of cocaine as his sports car was pursued at high speed by the Met at 4 in the morning and decided he'd get away from them by running across 3rd rail railway tracks. So let's not demonise all kids.