Jerseyman in “critical condition” after being struck by French train

Thursday 24 January 2019

A Jerseyman remains in critical condition in a French hospital after being hit by a freight train while he was sleeping by a railway line.

The 53-year-old, who has not been named, is currently recovering in Pontchaillou Hospital after the accident at Rennes train station, which led him to have an emergency foot amputation.

The islander is also reported to be suffering with serious head and abdominal injuries. 

News of the accident comes via reports from French media, France Bleu, France 3 and Maville par Ouest France. 

The latter said the man was believed to have been inebriated in the early hours of Wednesday when he decided to take a nap in Rennes train station. A bottle was reportedly recovered by his side.

Pictured: French train operator SNCF officials say they do not know how the man got into the station, but that an investigation into what happened has been opened.

Around 03:30 a freight train passed through the train station. The driver reportedly attempted to break, but was unable to miss the man, running over him and slicing his right foot. 

At 03:33, 13 emergency services officials were reported to have come to the man’s rescue. 

He was urgently transported to CHU where he remains in a “critical condition,” an SNCF official said. 

SNCF officials say they are not sure how he managed to enter the area, avoiding security guards, but added that he may have entered before the station closed. 

An investigation has been opened.

Lead photo: Rennes station in France, where the man was hit by the freight train. (Wiki/Chisloup)