Toddler die in freak train accident

Published May 1, 2015

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An 18-month-old girl died when her buggy was sucked off a station platform into the path of a high-speed train.

Lilly McElligott was killed instantly by a freight locomotive going at up to 62 miles an hour.

Her mother had left her for just a few seconds to buy a ticket from the office at Ebelsberg station in Linz, Austria.

Her heartbroken father Mark, who had moved to the city from Southport, Merseyside, said it was a freak accident.

“It was basically a load of chance incidents which led to it happening,” he said.

“I had just bought a new car which was automatic instead of manual and my wife didn’t feel comfortable driving it so she decided to take the train into town.

“She only had a 20-euro note and she had tried to put it in the machine but they had no change.

“She made the decision to leave Lilly for a few seconds to get a ticket. She put the brakes on but in those few seconds a heavy goods train came past and sucked the buggy and Lilly into the side of the train where she hit one of the wagons. It killed her instantly.”

Austrian police said an investigation has been carried out by Austrian Railways into the accident on April 8. Mr McElligott, a landscape gardener, said the family were devastated but thanked friends and well-wishers who have rallied round.

He said: “I can’t physically work. I’ve tried but, after a few hours, I’m just overwhelmed by the emotions.

“It was a tragic accident and no one is to blame. Two weeks later, another boy died in the same way in Zurich. His buggy was dragged into the path of a goods train and he suffered severe head injuries so it would be good if the train companies could slow the trains down.”

He said a website page to raise funds for his grieving family had so far raised around £7 000.

He added: “We had to go in the next day and identify her. I had to make arrangements for the funeral but I’m self-employed and only really had 500 euros to my name.

“As horrible as it sounds I had to decide to pick the cheapest funeral. I’m the type of guy who likes to work for his money and doesn’t want to take anything from anybody.”

A police spokesman confirmed that the accident happened after Lilly’s 33-year-old Austrian mother parked the pushchair, a few yards from the ticket office, and left her child momentarily.

The couple have two other children.

Daily Mail

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