Teenager critical after falling from train on Sydney Harbour Bridge

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 12 Nov, 20:49 · Archive

A 17-year-old boy is in critical condition after falling from a moving train on Sydney Harbour Bridge while train surfing.

A 17-year-old boy is in critical condition after falling from a moving train onto the tracks on Sydney Harbour Bridge on Thursday morning. Emergency services were called around 11.30am following reports that someone had fallen from a northbound Tangara train between Wynyard and Milsons Point train stations.

A multi-agency operation was launched immediately. A Careflight helicopter landed at nearby Bradfield Park with a medical team, and NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the boy on the bridge before carrying him 400 metres to safety. He was then transported by road ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he remained in critical condition.

NSW Ambulance confirmed the teenager suffered serious head, chest and pelvis injuries. Metro reports the boy was placed in an induced coma at the hospital.

Police Transport Command Inspector Luke Barrett said initial investigations, including CCTV footage and witness accounts, indicated the boy had been riding on the outside of the train in an activity commonly referred to as 'buffer riding'. Two other people were with him at the time and were assisting police with inquiries on Thursday afternoon. Barrett said there were no suggestions the other two had also ridden on the train.

The incident caused major disruptions to rail services. Trains were suspended on the T1 North Shore line between Wynyard and Milsons Point, with commuters urged to use alternative transport.

Inspector Barrett warned against the practice, describing it as highly dangerous and carrying an extreme risk of serious injury or death. He said the teenager should not be influenced by social media content. Acting Sydney Trains chief executive Jas Tumbler echoed the warning, stating: 'You just don't mess or play with a 400-tonne train; there will always be significant consequences and these are life-changing events that occur.'

Police have commenced an investigation into the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

How it is being reported

• Boy fighting for life after falling while train surfingTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page A 17-year-old boy is fighting for his life after falling from a moving train while allegedly train surfing across Sydney Harbour Bridge. Emergency services…Metro · 12 Nov, 16:02
• Australian teen fighting for life after falling off outside of train in likely ‘buffer riding’ stunt‘You just don’t mess, or play with a 400-tonne train,’ says the head of Sydney's rail operationsIndependent World · 12 Nov, 11:36
• Teenager in critical condition after likely ‘train surfing’ on Sydney Harbour Bridge, police say‘You just don’t mess or play with a 400-tonne train’, Sydney trains says as 17-year-old suffers multiple injuries to head, chest and pelvis A 17-year-old boy is in a critical condition after falling from the outside of a train on the Sydney Harbour Bridge while he was likely train surfing, NSW police say. Around 11.30am on Thursday, emergency services were called to the railway corridor between Wynyard and Milsons Point train stations following reports someone had fallen from a northbound Tangara train onto the tracks on the bridge. Continue reading...Guardian World · 12 Nov, 06:09
• Sydney Harbour Bridge emergency after boy ‘falls from train’ with helicopter on sceneThe teenage boy is now being treated by medics, according to police, after emergency services were scrambled to one of the world's most iconic tourist hotspotsThe Mirror · 12 Nov, 02:14
• Boy fighting for life after horror fall while train surfing on the Sydney Harbour BridgeA teenage boy is being fighting for life after falling while train surfing across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.Daily Mail · 12 Nov, 01:59

In this story: Sydney Harbour Bridge · Royal North Shore Hospital · NSW Police · Sydney Trains · Luke Barrett · Jas Tumbler

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