FALL FROM A MOVING TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14174, 24 September 1909, Page 5

FALL FROM A MOVING TRAIN.

PASSENGER BADLY INJURED

SUFFERER'S LONELY NIGHT.

An- accident attended by serious injury befel Mr. Alexander Laird, a married man ajfed 46 years,' and manager at the Waitakerei waterworks, while attempting to alight from a moving train at Waitakerei on Wednesday night. He underwent an operation at the Auckland Hospital yesterday for a gra*e abdominal injury, and when seen by a Herald representative last night was in a very low condition.

Mr. Laird explained that he was travelling to Swanson, the nearest station to the Waitakerei waterworks, by the evening train from Auckland to Helensville, and awoke from a sleep shortly before seven p.m. to find that the train had passed Swanson, and was. just leaving the Waitakerei station. Taking his bag he opened the carriage door and jumped off the footboard to the side of the line, but unfortunately landed on the switch points, with the result that his stomach was penetrated and he was stunned. When asked if he misjudged the rate of speed at which the train was travelling, Mr. Laird replied that he would have reached the ground safely but for falling oh to the points. .

It transpires that Mr. Laird was lying by the side of the line for some time before being discovered by some young men, and carried into the station buildings. A sug= gestion was made that he should be conveyed on a railway trolley to Swanson or" Avondale for medical attention, but he felt quite unequal to the effort.

The events which followed appear to be a most unfortunate part of the story, for the injured man states that he was left to suffer in loneliness through the night.

"Is it a fact that you were- left in the station unattended?" the reporter asked. " Yes," replied Mr. Laird. " I said to them, 'Surely you are not going to leave me like this,' but they did. There were several men and boys there, and I think it should have been the ganger's duty to see that something was done. I would not have had even a blanket-but for a young man who went away and brought one. I him 10s this morning for his thoughtfulness, but he wouldn't take a penny.- Someone came down and gave me a drink of tea this morning, but that was all they did before I was brought to Auckland by the. first train." "

The medical staff at the hospital stated that the operation was of a serious nature, and the case wa-s regarded as somewhat critical. , •