An 18-year-old man has had both his legs severed after being hit by a freight train in Taree, on the NSW mid-north coast.
ABC News report the man had been celebrating his birthday with friends at a nearby home, but was discovered by emergency services on the tracks at 4.30am on Sunday, with legs severed “high above the knee.”
Per a further report in News Limited, the train was carrying freight between Brisbane and Victoria, and had slowed down to change drivers shortly before the incident.
The driver, a 33-year-old man from Queensland, contacted emergency services after hitting the man, before being taken to Manning Base Hospital for routine blood and urine tests.
Bystanders at the incident reportedly caused a disruption, throwing rocks at police and paramedics as they investigated, smashing the windscreen of an ambulance and temporarily forcing officers to take refuge in the train’s cabin.
“It is a tragic and horrific incident for the young fella,” said Taree Inspector Allan Fidock. “He is alive but we just hope that the medical staff or surgical guys can give him some sort of quality of life.”
“It is horrific to have to deal with that and then deal with alcohol-induced friends and family. And they are having a go at the cops and ambulance officers.”
There were no further injuries at the scene, and the police investigation is ongoing.
Photo: William West via Getty Images
