Firefighters used a hydraulic jack to free the boy, who was rushed to the hospital in critical condition
NEED TO KNOW
- A seventh grader in Australia was seriously injured after becoming trapped under a train on Monday, May 11
- Firefighters used a hydraulic jack to free the boy, who was rushed to Royal Children’s Hospital in critical condition
- The school offered support to students and Metro Trains is investigating the incident
A schoolboy in Australia has been hospitalized after his bag got stuck on a train, causing him to become trapped underneath a passenger car.
The incident occurred at North Melbourne railway station in Melbourne on Monday, May 11, at around 4 p.m. local time, according to Australia's ABC News and News.com.au.
The seventh grade student, who attends St Aloysius College, was reportedly standing “near the edge” of the platform as a train arrived. That's “when their school bag became caught on the train, causing the student to fall onto the track,” the school's principal, Mary Farah, said of the incident, per ABC News.
He was reportedly dragged several yards before becoming trapped underneath the train for up to an hour, suffering serious leg injuries, according to the outlets.
Credit: Getty
In an email to parents, Farah said a number of classmates witnessed the incident, with one pressing the emergency button and dialing 000, the emergency number for Australia, while others alerted transport authorities. She added that members from the school's leadership team rushed down to the station, which is around 1.8 miles away from the college, to support the students.
Firefighters used a hydraulic jack to lift the train car to access the tracks, where the boy was trapped, according to ABC News and The New Daily.
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After being rescued, the boy was rushed to the Royal Children's Hospital in critical condition. As of Tuesday, May 12, the hospital said the boy's condition was “serious but stable,” according to ABC News.
“As of 8:30 a.m. this morning, the student remains under medical care. The college's thoughts, prayers and support are with the student and their family,” Farah said on Tuesday, according to News.com.au.
Credit: Ye Myo Khant/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty I
She added that counseling and wellbeing support were offered to those affected by the incident.
Metro Trains said it was investigating the incident and thanked emergency staff for their “quick response.”
PEOPLE reached out to Fire Rescue Victoria, the Royal Children's Hospital, St Aloysius College and Metro Trains for further information and comment, but did not get an immediate response.
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