Boy burned in railway line fall

A 16-year-old boy suffered serious burns when he fell from a railway station platform on to a 750-volt live rail, police said today.

The incident happened yesterday evening at Swaythling station in Southampton and British Transport Police, Hampshire Police and paramedics all went to the scene.

A BTP spokesman said: "It appears that the boy, a 16-year-old from Swaythling, was with a group of friends at the station when he fell backwards from the platform on to the tracks. As a result, he came into contact with the live rail and suffered serious burns.

"He was initially taken to hospital in Southampton before later being transferred to a specialist burns hospital in Salisbury, where he currently remains."

BTP Inspector Mick Morriss said: "At this stage we are treating this incident as an accident and not suspicious.

"This young man suffered serious burns as a result of this incident, which is an important reminder of the need to take care when near railway lines.

"The live third rail, which powers trains across the South, carries 750 volts of electricity and remains switched on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"The summer holidays are a well-deserved break for young people and we don't want them to end on a sad note."