A father who died trying to save his twin children after their pram flipped onto train tracks in an apparent accident in Sydney’s south has been widely praised as “brave and heroic”.
A 40-year-old man died at the scene along with one of his two young children, a 2-year-old girl. Another 2-year-old girl and a 39-year-old woman are being treated in hospital.
Emergency services were called to Carlton railway station on Sunday afternoon after reports a pram carrying two children had slipped off the platform.
“An incredibly brave and heroic act.”
Police said the incident happened when the family took the elevator to the train platform, with the parents taking their hands off the stroller for a “very brief” period.
The car then immediately began to roll in the direction of the train line, into the path of the train that was not scheduled to stop at the station.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Paul Dunstan described the father’s attempt to save his children’s lives as “an incredibly brave and heroic act”.
“He just went into fatherhood mode and tried to save his two young daughters. [who’ve] “He fell on the tracks, which led to his death,” Dunstan said.
Dunstan said emergency services responded within minutes of the first call for help, and were met with the screams of the surviving twins.
A two-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man died at the scene, at Sydney’s Carlton train station. credit: Hannah Kwan/SBS News
He added that they “saw the baby carriage under the train and heard crying from under the train.”
The police climbed under the train and rescued one of the children, who was fortunately unharmed, and returned him to his mother.
“Unfortunately, another two-year-old girl and her father who tried to save the child died as a result.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the local Indian community, of which the family was a part, would suffer today after such a “horrific” incident and tragedy.
“I hope that in time they can gain some solace in knowing that their father died as a result of an extraordinary and instinctive act of bravery,” he said.
“He sacrificed his life trying to save his children.”
The police will investigate the incident.
Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said such incidents were “extremely rare” but the results were clearly “absolutely tragic”.
“This incident will be fully investigated by the police and we will wait until that process is complete,” he said.
We have provided all relevant information to the police, including CCTV footage from the station.
He added that drivers were instructed to approach stations with caution, and support was provided to the concerned employees.
“They are two of our most experienced crew members … but obviously the nature of this incident was very controversial,” Longland said.
The rail, tram and bus union said it would also provide support.
New South Wales Police said earlier the incident was not believed to be suspicious, but a crime scene had been identified.
A forensic report will be prepared.
