Amazing footage of miracle escape

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26218271-421,00.html

A security video camera has captured shocking footage of a train running over a baby in a pram.

CCTV footage obtained by the Herald Sun shows the pram rolling away from the baby’s mother, tipping onto the tracks and being hit by the train.

Witnesses fearing the worst were stunned when the six-month-boy was hauled from the tracks with little more than a bump on his head.

The near-miss happened at Ashburton station, south-east of Melbourne, as a city-bound train pulled into the station just after 4pm yesterday.

The baby was strapped into a three-wheeler pram that rolled forward and toppled on to the tracks.

The pram was carried 30m as the desperate driver tried to pull up the 250 tonne train. It ploughed into the pram at about 35km/h, dragging the child along beneath the front carriage

Witnesses watched in horror, fearing the baby had no hope.

But he was safely back in his mother's arms when ambulance officers arrived minutes later.

Ambulance Victoria intensive care paramedic Jon Wright said the distraught baby bounced back with just a bump to the side of the head.

"Apparently he needed a feed and a nap," he said.

The near-tragedy follows a spate of dangerous incidents involving prams on Melbourne's rail network.

It came just days after Connex and Kidsafe warned parents to be more vigilant, particularly when using popular three-wheel prams.

Mr Wright said the narrow escape showed how careful parents have to be.

"Luckily he was strapped into his pram at the time, which probably saved his life. I think the child's extremely lucky," he said.

"Fortunately the train was slowing as it pulled into the station," Mr Wright said.

"It's a good learning point for parents to ensure that children are securely strapped into whatever transport medium they're in, be that a car seat or a pram."

The baby was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital and released last night.

A police spokeswoman described the escape as amazing.

"This could have been so much worse. We're very thankful," she said.

The accident forced trains to be suspended on the Alamein line, causing major delays to travellers.

Spokesman John Rees said Connex was investigating how the pram rolled off the platform on to the tracks.

Mr Rees said the driver would be offered counselling.

"We are grateful this has not ended in a fatality," he said.