"Numb with horror: the train just hit my baby"
Ashley Gardiner
SHOCKING CCTV images reveal the traumatic moment when a mother feared the worst.
Her pram containing her six-month-old son had rolled out of her reach on Ashburton rail station platform - and on to the tracks where it was hit by a city-bound train.
Footage of Thursday's spine-chilling incident was released earlier.
It shows that as the train approaches, the mum lets go for no more than two seconds to hitch up her trousers before getting on with her son.
But the three-wheel pram instantly rolls away and over the platform edge - to the shrieking disbelief of the mum and other commuters.
She desperately races to the platform edge and reaches over, now placing herself in mortal danger.
Seconds later the 250-tonne train smacks into the pram at 35km/h, missing her by centimetres - and rendering others on the platform numb with the shocking thought that they have surely just seen a baby die in front of its mum
The distressed woman is dumbstruck for a few seconds - then races down the platform to the front of the train.
Miraculously, her son was unhurt after being dragged 30m down the track under the front carriage of the train.
He escaped with a bump on the head, and was discharged from the Royal Children's Hospital soon after arrival.
Paramedics reported he only needed "a feed and a nap" after the incident.
Connex and the police yesterday praised the quick-thinking train driver.
Sgt Mick Ferwerda, of the Victoria Police transit safety division, said his actions were heroic.
"From my understanding, he's applied every brake possible to safely resolve the incident," Sgt Ferwerda said.
"Trains need a lot of time to stop. He's applied the brakes as early as possible, he's done a fantastic job."
He added that there was no police investigation, saying: "There is no suggesting the mother of the baby did anything wrong."
Connex spokeswoman Lanie Harris said the driver had been offered counselling as a result of being "fairly traumatised".
"He is a hero, he was able to respond quickly in applying the brakes and avoided a deadly outcome," she said.
Thursday's 4pm drama came just a day after Connex had issued a new warning about prams on platforms.
Sgt Ferwerda said there were near misses daily across Melbourne's train network.
He added: "The safety messages are simple. Stand clear of approaching trains, apply brakes on or keep a tight grip of any objects with wheels, and be aware of your surroundings."
