Man seeks talks with SWT after being impaled on railings at Wokingham

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Bit of a strange story in the Wokingham Times.  According to the article the gentleman stumbled as he got off the train at Wokingham and ended up stuck on the railings.  Still can't quite work out how he did it.

A train passenger has questioned the safety of spiked railings at Wokingham train station after his left wrist became impaled on one of the barriers.

John Rosier required surgery to treat injuries he suffered during the incident at the station in Station Road on Saturday, August 6, and is now recovering at home.

The 60-year-old, who lives in the Whitley area of Reading, was travelling to Wokingham with stepson, Ryan Lambourne, to meet his son Dean Rosier at the adjacent Molly Millar pub when he stumbled while trying to get off the train.

In an effort to steady himself, Mr Rosier stuck his left arm out to try and grab something, which happened to be a metal railing topped with spikes. (article continues on the link...)

[paul7575]

He isn't actually getting a lot of sympathy from the locals, eg the author of comment #3...   

I wonder if the incident is recorded on CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision)?

Paul

[LiskeardRich]

sounds like he may of been intoxicated at the time.

[Oxman]

According to the report I read, he was on his way to the pub at the time!

A few years ago, someone was impaled on a railing at one of the Dorking stations, I think. Can't remember the detail, but the result was that all FGW^▸ (First Great Western) stations were inspected and any railings with points were replaced or altered. A duty of care is owed to everyone that comes on a station, whether or not they have a right to be there and regardless of their condition!

[smokey]

And since most new fences have been installed with pointy bits on Top. 

[phile]

Reported to be on his way to a pub.   Appears he has just left another one !!!

[Ollie]

This comment on that paper site probably sums it up:

"I don't get it. There's probably a 12 inch drop from the train to the platform, then at least 8-12 feet between edge of platform and the railings - which are 5 feet high. So I don't get how, if falling from the train, Mr Rosier managed to stumble the 8 feet across the platform and then 5 feet upwards to impail himself ? An unfortunate turn of events indeed. Therefore I echo the comments above - don't have a knee-jerk reaction to this incident, the incidence is probably very low (probably even for those trying to jump over the railings to avoid fares) and the railings are there for a reason. "

[Chris from Nailsea]

And since most new fences have been installed with pointy bits on Top. 

^

What he said.

See the new platform railings at Weston-super-Mare, just for example.