Train crush man loses both legs

Two medics had to get under the train at Plymouth station

A man has lost both of his legs after he was crushed by a train at Plymouth railway station.

The 26-year-old man had his right leg severed in the incident and his left one amputated by paramedics to free him before being taken to hospital.

A South Western Ambulance Service spokeswoman said medics got under the train to carry out the amputation.

The exact circumstances of the incident were unclear but it was not being treated as suspicious.

Morphine treatment

Emergency services were called to the station at about 1940 BST after reports that a man had been hit by a train travelling from London Paddington to Penzance.

The man, who is believed to be from Plymouth, was hit between the knee and the ankle of both legs underneath the front of the train.

Two South Western Ambulance Service paramedics were on scene within five minutes. They were joined by four other medics soon afterwards.

A local surgical team was consulted while the procedure was carried out, but was not on the scene.

It was a life-or-death decision Lyn Paramor, South Western Ambulance Service

The man was treated with morphine and was conscious throughout the incident. He was taken to the city's Derriford Hospital within an hour of emergency services arriving.

Ambulance spokeswoman Lyn Paramor said if the paramedics had not got under the train the man could have bled to death.

She said: "It was a life-or-death decision.

"As soon as the paramedics got there they had to remove this lad from under the train. Therefore it was either do nothing and him not being able to survive, or do what they do best and save lives, so they immediately took action."

The man was expected to make a good recovery, Ms Paramor said.

British Transport Police said the incident was not being treated as suspicious.