The driver of a Melbourne train that hit a baby in a pram on the tracks yesterday says it was lucky the train pulled up as quickly as it did.
The 15-month-old baby boy suffered cuts and bruising to his face after being dragged up to 10 metres face down in his double pram at the Taroonga train station. 
The boy is in a stable condition at the Royal Children's Hospital.
The child was with his grandmother and three-year-old brother when the pram rolled off the platform and into the path of an oncoming train.
Security cameras captured the incident as the pram rolled off the platform.
Driver Steve Ryan says there was a lot of luck involved because on the X'Trapolis train, there is a lot of open space at the front.
"The pram hit the iron guard at an angle and that was just plain lucky," he said.
"The train really did pull up quickly."
Mr Ryan said he gave his kids a hug when he got home last night.
"I have a grand daughter the same age and I'd do anything to save my grandkids. I treated this boy exactly the same," he said.
He said drivers are trained to respond to this type of incident.
"When it does [happen], your instincts just kick in," he said.
"Whenever I approach a platform, I always look out for school kids and prams."
Ambulance officers on the scene said it was amazing the child was not more seriously injured.
Victorian Premier John Brumby says it is miraculous that the child survived.
He says the Government will examine the issue to to see if changes need to be made in the design of prams.
"I think many people's minds are focused on what changes could be made including perhaps even pram design. it's every parent's worst fear," he said.
"Maybe they need a deadman's brake. I don't know."
0 comments:
Post a Comment