Suffolk Conservative MP struck by train in London

[First class]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds_bucks_and_herts/10357834.stm

I would speculate and take a guess he was probably standing too close to the platform edge and when the train has arrived it's clipped him seeing as he only "suffered" minor injuries.

 

[tsubaki]

the Sun are reporting this as a suicide attempt, as is the Tory blogger Iain Dale.

 

[yorkie]

Due to further complaints, I've removed all of the posts by TheExmoorBeast on this topic, some of which were extremely distasteful and disrespectful.

 

[wintonian]

Personally I will wait for clarification/ confirmation for a slightly more reputable source than a newspaper that just about has the intellect to print headlines such as "Wham bam! Sam cam to be mam (she'll need a new pram)."

Edit:
According to the local rag he fell and missed the live rail at arround 17:00 on Thursday: http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/politics/suffolk_mp_survives_after_falling_in_front_of_train_1_464800.

Looks like he may have had a lucky escape and seeing Charing Cross at the same time I'm surprised things like this aren’t more common. I would say that were overdue for a safety improvement on platforms in London.

 

[tsubaki]

Personally I will wait for clarification/ confirmation for a slightly more reputable source than a newspaper that just about has the intellect to print headlines such as "Wham bam! Sam cam to be mam (she'll need a new pram)."

Edit:
According to the local rag he fell and missed the live rail at arround 17:00 on Thursday: http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/politics/suffolk_mp_survives_after_falling_in_front_of_train_1_464800.

Looks like he may have had a lucky escape and seeing Charing Cross at the same time I'm surprised things like this aren’t more common. I would say that were overdue for a safety improvement on platforms in London.

As I said above, the rumour is being confirmed (albeit with some qualification) by the Tory blogger Iain Dale.

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

I wish to apologise unreservedly to both the moderators & other members who I may have caused offence to, I was basing my judgements on old & incorrect news.

 

[jon0844]

The BBC has not changed its story yet it seems. That still implies an accident where someone was standing too close to the edge, or was possibly pushed or slipped.

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

That's why I got the proverbial "wrong of the stick" and said what I said (now deleted) previously. Hence the apology.

 

[455driver]

I would say that were overdue for a safety improvement on platforms in London.

How about painting a yellow line on the platform and put signs up (and make announcements) to stand BEHIND it!
Oh yeah they have already done that and people just ignore it :roll:. Maybe if the passengers did their bit eh!

 

[wintonian]

Fair enough, but wouldn't it be so much safer to actually stop trains form entering the station in the first place - remove the hazard instead of minimising the risk?

 

[jon0844]

London Underground is trialling that very idea every weekend on most lines.

They call it 'engineering work' though.

 

[wintonian]

Oh I thought that was something to do with fixing a light bulb or 2, or rotating the advertising revenue?

 

[jopsuk]

Why was a Suffolk MP catching a rush hour train from Victoria on a Thursday? I'd treat anything Ian Dale claims when it comes to mental illness/depression etc with extreme caution- he's notorious for starting nasty rumours about the mental state of politicians.

 

[GB]

Why was a Suffolk MP catching a rush hour train from Victoria on a Thursday?QUOTE]

Are you having a laugh?

I thought train travel was open to everyone?

 

[bluenoxid]

Victoria is only 0.9 miles from SW1A 0AA. Only Waterloo, Waterloo East and Charing Cross are closer.

Suicide attempt is now being reported by several news outlets.

 

[StoneRoad]

How about painting a yellow line on the platform and put signs up (and make announcements) to stand BEHIND it!
Oh yeah they have already done that and people just ignore it :roll:. Maybe if the passengers did their bit eh!

They could always try the "walling it off and opening panels opposite the doors after the train has stopped" method.:roll:

 

[jopsuk]

Why was a Suffolk MP catching a rush hour train from Victoria on a Thursday?

Are you having a laugh?

I thought train travel was open to everyone?

Just wondering where he'd be going... most MPs travel back to their constituencies on Thursday evening, to do constituency work on Friday. This would involve Kings Cross or Liverpool Street if he was heading for Bury St Edmunds.

 

[ladydsm]

here are a few facts not saying where it came from
Fact 1 it was Victoria platform 13
Facts 2 as the Train approached the buffer stops the man fell forwards on to the track in front of the train.
Arrangments were made to switch off the third rail to the suprise of the driver the man popped up between the platform and train with only a head injury. A full investigation is being carried out. sorry not as sensational as the sun.an attempt to take his own life has not been ruled out but only a mp would try that on buffer stops .

 

[the sniper]

an attempt to take his own life has not been ruled out but only a mp would try that on buffer stops .

This is what puzzled me. I know someone intending to commit suicide isn't exactly thinking very clearly, but surly a terminus station wouldn't be the first place you'd choose to do it? You'd probably be better off trying your luck on the road outside...

Anyway, from what you've said, I wouldn't be surprised if the chap had a fit, seizure or just fainted. I've personally witnessed someone fall forward as an approaching train has entered a platform, in my case the girl had a seizure and fell forward through the gap between the train and platform, though she was lucky as she was dragged along the platform by the train instead of falling onto the rails, which was actually lucky as it probably saved her life.

There could be another explanation though, maybe he just finds the Right Honourable William Huskisson an inspirational role model? (Reference stolen from the Fact Compiler of Railway Eye fame. )

 

[WatcherZero]

Problem with depression is it can be a spur of the moment decision, standing waiting to get a train home from work and thinking that hes missed out on a cabinet place, his career might be dead, etc..

His freinds have said he was seriously depressed.

 

[ladydsm]

well hope he gets well soon and gets all the help he needs .It must be humliating to lose a seat then have your name spread all over the news hopefully the truth will come out in the end.

 

[Aictos]

They could always try the "walling it off and opening panels opposite the doors after the train has stopped" method.:roll:

Why the rolling eyes?

Railway Byelaw Section 12. Safety instructions

(1) An Operator may issue reasonable instructions relating to safety on any part of the railway by means of a notice on or near that part of the railway. No person shall, without good cause, disobey such notice.

(2) An authorised person may, in an emergency or in other circumstances in which he believes he should act in the interests of safety, issue instructions to any person on the railway. No person shall, without good cause, disobey such instructions.

Hence why when there's double yellow lines on platform edges they are there for a reason even more so when they also come with a safety message.

Also note it also covers staff issuing a safety instruction to anyone.