Metrorail staff were “deeply traumatised” after a train struck two men lying on the tracks near Philippi station in Cape Town.
|||Cape Town - A man died and a Cape Town high school pupil was lucky to escape with his life in separate incidents on the city’s rail network on Wednesday.
The first incident occurred at 2.52pm between the Salt River and Koeberg stations when a Thandokhulu High School pupil, 20, lost his footing moving between two carriages.
He was taken to Somerset Hospital with cuts and bruises, said Metrorail.
At 4.15pm, two men were seen lying across the tracks at the Philippi station as the train from Kapteinsklip to Cape Town was approaching. Metrorail said the train struck the pair. One of the men died.
Police and emergency services were soon at the scene.
“It is unclear why the two men were on the tracks. The circumstances are yet to be confirmed,” said Metrorail’s Riana Scott.
Her regional manager, Mthuthuzeli Swartz, offered his condolences to the family of the dead man and wished the survivor a speedy recovery.
He urged witnesses to help the police in their investigation.
Metrorail employees on the train had been deeply traumatised.
Scott said the trains on the lines involved changed platforms and lines, alternating on a “stop-go” basis, but there had been delays while police combed the scene for clues.
The second man’s condition could not be established at the time of publication.
Cape Argus