Lucky boy

[Johnuk123]

Taken from the Metro newspaper 13/08/2012

Boy loses sight in one eye after railway detonator explodes in his face


A 15-year-old boy has lost the sight in his right eye after a railway detonator exploded in his face in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on Saturday night.

British transport police (BTP) said the teenager suffered severe facial injuries after detonators were thrown on to a bonfire at a skate park on Belton Way, close to a railway depot.

The boy is now in Southend Hospital and is expected to undergo surgery today.

Officers believe he was with two friends and that they took a box of detonators, which are used as fog signals on the rail network, from the depot.

They then put them on to the fire and at least one of the detonators exploded.

DC Michael Bute, of BTP Southend, said: 'This is a tragic incident, which has had very serious consequences for the youngster involved.

'It does serve to highlight the dangers of trespassing on to any part of the rail network that is not meant for public access.'

Two 17-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of theft in connection with the incident and are now being held at Southend police station.

Although 'lucky' might not seem applicable, that's what he is as he could well have lost both eyes.

 

[SS4]

Hopefully he won't be such a fool in future.

 

[Ivo]

This was all over the local paper (at my mother's). The questions are essentially criticisms of Network Rail and how this was even allowed to happen...

In the weekend where Leigh had the global spotlight on it (local station and Park & Ride for Hadleigh Farm), this happens. Very unfortunate timing.

 

[Nym]

So nothing about why they nicked explosives?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Like many cases of railway-related misdemenours, history will show that nothing will be learnt from this and we can expect more stories of the results of outright stupidity in the future.

 

[deltic1989]

Without meaning to point the finger of blame, the question must be raised. How were these boys able to enter the depot and leave with a box of explosives without being stopped? Are they not stored in secure rooms? I ask this because had this incident involved people taking explosives from a military establishment questions would be asked as to the security of the explosive store. As I say not pointing the finger just asking.

 

[Nym]

MoD Stores don't need to leave their explosives potentially in place as a long term warning system or some other warning mechanism though.

One could also ask how secure fireworks are kept in stores in simple glass cabinets that can be broken.

I do wonder this myself slightly though, but it should not detract from the legality of their action in taking such goods...

 

[deltic1989]

You make a good point there nym.
I agree that no matter the circumstances surrounding the storage of the detonators the fact does still remain that the boys actions in obtaining them were illegal, and this accident was entirely avoidable had they kept thier hands to themselves. The injured lad is lucky to escape with his life, maybe this accident will serve as a warning to others thinking of stealing from railway stores.

 

[Harbon 1]

I don't think the BTP should call it a "Tragic accident" it wasn't tragic at all, tragic is someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, not stealing explosives and setting them off.

 

[chris89]

Without meaning to point the finger of blame, the question must be raised. How were these boys able to enter the depot and leave with a box of explosives without being stopped? Are they not stored in secure rooms? I ask this because had this incident involved people taking explosives from a military establishment questions would be asked as to the security of the explosive store. As I say not pointing the finger just asking.

Im not sure either how they got the detenators. At the SVR in Bridgnorth they are in a locked caged behind a locked door someone at the MPD (not saying where about as have been targets for robberies before from copper etc)

Chris

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Im not sure either how they got the detenators. At the SVR in Bridgnorth they are in a locked caged behind a locked door someone at the MPD (not saying where about as have been targets for robberies before from copper etc)

Chris

Really? You don't keep any on block shelves, or in emergency equipment boxes on trains?

 

[chris89]

Really? You don't keep any on block shelves, or in emergency equipment boxes on trains?

When trains are not running etc. Not sure where the guard ones are kept.

But for locomotive crews they have to sign them out/ taken onto the footplate when they go off depot.

Chris

 

[MattRobinson]

Pretty much the same at KWVR, tbh. Kept in lighter ups locker, until signed out. Then, they're kept on the locomotive in an unlocked cabinet. Someone who knew what they were looking for and were quick could grab them if they were so inclined. But that's the same for all railways, surely. I assume there's some in the signal box, but that's pretty much inaccessible to a casual visitor.

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[455driver]

I don't think the BTP should call it a "Tragic accident" it wasn't tragic at all, tragic is someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, not stealing explosives and setting them off.

They dont, they call it a "tragic incident".

They managed to nick them because some {deleted} had damaged the palisade fencing, if 8ft high steel fencing wont keep the thickies out what will!
Maybe he needs to sue the {deleted} that damaged the fence allowing these thickies access to railway land.
If they think its acceptable to break in through 8ft high fencing, steal these things and throw them on a bonfire then they really are {deleted} in the extreme!

Wiggler, nail hit squarely on head with your post above, you play with fire you get burned.
Why were they having a "bonfire" at a skate park anyway?
Or had they just set fire to a load of rubbish and the paper was trying to make it sound more acceptable?

 

[michael769]

I don't think the BTP should call it a "Tragic accident" it wasn't tragic at all, tragic is someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, not stealing explosives and setting them off.

It is still tragic for the friends and relatives they left behind.

 

[deltic1989]

It is still tragic for the friends and relatives they left behind.

The lad didn't die. He lost the sight in one of his eyes.
I would have to agree that "Tragic Accident" is a bit of a strong term. Had the boys involved kept their hands to themselves then this entire situation would never have occurred.

 

[MattRobinson]

The way I read it, I thought that he wasn't involved but just a member of the group who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's unlikely that he's entirely innocent, being in this group, but I thought it sounded like some other people in the group had done the actual stealing and throwing.

If, however, he had been involved in either the stealing or throwing, that would completely change my outlook on this.

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