Cape Town – A man believed to be in his fifties has been seriously injured after being hit by a train near Southfield in the southern suburbs.
He had attempted to cross the railway line illegally, Netwerk24 reported. When ER24 and Life Healthcare paramedics arrived on the scene, the fire brigade was already in attendance.
The man was found lying next to the railway line and had multiple injuries. Advanced life-support equipment was needed to transport him to Groote Schuur Hospital.
Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said trains were unable to use the outgoing tracks while police were combing the scene, but luckily incoming trains weren't affected.
Scott cautioned people to cross a railway line only at the designated spots, as a fast-moving train is unable to stop in time to prevent a collision. It takes about 50m before a train is able to come to a standstill.
On August 8, a pedestrian was struck by a train between Southfield and Heathfield stations but wasn't seriously injured.