Commuter dies in rush hour station fall

Cape Town - A man was killed at Cape Town Station early on Monday when he fell between a train and the platform while trying to board.

The incident, which took place at 5.17am, caused several platform changes and delays in arrivals and departures at the station.

“Metrorail confirms a rail fatality at Cape Town Station this morning,” regional manager Mthuthuzeli Swartz said.

“A passenger tried to board a moving train this morning at Cape Town station’s platform 11. In the attempt, he lost his footing and fell between train and platform.

“The incident is a matter of a police investigation and circumstances surrounding this incident are yet to be confirmed.”

Swartz offered his condolences to the family of the man. He urged commuters to be safety conscious and to refrain from boarding moving trains.

“By adopting safe commuting practices, we can prevent such senseless tragedies,” Swartz said.

Police confirmed the death.

“A death inquest case docket has been registered following the death of an unknown male person in his thirties this morning at Cape Town Station,” said police liaison officer Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut.

“The circumstances are being investigated,” he said.

Cape Argus