Johannesburg – Two teenagers suffered critical injuries after an alleged train-surfing mishap near Riverlea train station, west of Johannesburg.
Community members said the teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were allegedly train surfing near Riverlea train station on Tuesday night.
ER24 on Wednesday said paramedics were dispatched to the scene at approximately 7:30pm after a report of a man that tripped and fell along the railway.
"However, when the paramedics arrived on the scene, they were escorted by members of the community to the train tracks where they found an unconscious 17-year-old teenager with severe injuries," ER24 said in a statement.
It is understood that one of the teenagers managed to walk to a nearby house to call for help. He had sustained major lacerations to his abdomen and was in a serious condition.
ER24 said paramedics initiated advanced life support treatment on the 17-year-old and later rushed him to Helen Joseph Hospital for further care.
"The 16 year-old was stabilised on the scene and rushed through to Life Fourways Hospital."
ER24 said that the 16 year-old teenager claimed that they had been robbed and thrown off the train.
"However, members of the community stated that they saw people earlier standing on top of the train," ER24 said.
ER24 said community members were "extremely helpful" on the scene as many of them provided first-aid prior the arrival of the paramedics.
The police were called to the scene to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
This was the first such reported incident this year, following that of a 19-year-old schoolboy from Finetown, near Lenasia, who was beheaded on his way to school at Chiawelo railway station in July 2015.
African News Agency