Cape Town - A teenage boy was “cut to pieces” after he was hit by a train while on his way to school.
Fifteen-year-old Derrin Rhode died instantly at the Firgrove train station just after 7am on Monday.
According to Metrorail, it appears the teenager was crossing the tracks illegally when an oncoming train hit him.
Shocked commuters and security guards screamed as the boy’s body was being mangled by the train.
A female security guard who saw the incident said it was a “sickening” sight.
“His body was badly crushed by the train, it cut him into pieces – one of his legs was lying one side,” the traumatised woman told the Daily Voice.
“It’s sad a young boy died so tragically.”
Derrin, who attended Gordon High School in Somerset West where he was in Grade 10, took the train to school every day.
It’s believed he was with two friends when the accident occurred.
His heartbroken family was too distraught to speak on Monday.
His shocked father, Victor Japhta, 33, only said they are waiting to hear from authorities about how his son died.
“We don’t know what happened, all we know is that he was knocked down by a train,” Japhta said with tears in his eyes.
“We are still trying to come to terms with what has happened to our family. We can only talk when everything has settled down.”
Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said Stellenbosch SAPS responded to the incident.
Scott said: “From initial reports, it seems the deceased was crossing the railway tracks illegally at the time of the incident.”
Train services were severely disrupted and bus shuttles operated while police investigated the scene.
Constable Noloyiso Rwexana says an inquest docket has been opened.
Daily Voice