Radio New Zealand News - Te Rapa, New Zealand / 3:12pm on 01 Mar 2007
Teenager almost electrocuted on train carriage
Police say the 19-year-old was with friends when he climbed on some train carriages at Te Rapa at 10pm on Wednesday. He got too close to an overhead power supply and received an electric shock. He was thrown from the carriage and has serious burns to the left side of his body.
It is believed he did not touch the powerline but was close enough for the electric current to jump across to him.
Police say entering railway land without reason is an offence but say he is unlikely to face charges.
Manchester Evening News - Manchester, England / 28/ 2/2007
‘Train surfer’ electrocuted
RAIL services across Greater Manchester were crippled after a suspected ‘train surfer’ touched 25,000-volt overhead cables and burst into flames in front of horrified onlookers in Manchester city centre.
It is believed the victim – a man in his early 20s – climbed on to the rear of the train when it stopped at a red signal in the city centre shortly before 9pm.
He is said to have ridden on top of a freight container as it headed to Oxford Road station. But when he attempted to climb off the train onto a bridge close to the station he touched high-voltage cables and was electrocuted.
Eye witnesses reportedly saw him burst into flames.
Fire crews doused the blaze while police cordoned off the scene to carry out an investigation into the tragedy. Rail insiders said one major line of inquiry would be that the man was attempting to joyride on the train as part of a highly dangerous craze known as ‘train surfing’.
I find it shocking that you would resort to the use of puns to describe such a high-powered experience. I hope to find some level of resistance to that effort. [4:-)]
This story surely lighted up my evening. Another case of people not moraly grounded. they should be charged with something. Were they amped up on drugs?[swg]