Carer’s train ordeal at station
10:14am Wednesday 23rd July 2008
A CARER has spoken of her "frightening" ordeal after a train door shut on her arm and began to pull her along the platform.
Geraldine Roberts was helping a group of people with learning disabilities off a train when her arm got caught in a closing door.
Two carers and three members of Avenues, a charity providing accommodation for people with learning disabilities, were getting off the train at Petts Wood at around 3pm on July 16.
Mrs Roberts had helped two people off the train and was standing on the platform helping a third when the door alarm sounded.
She began to scream, saying: "Don't shut the doors" but there were no staff there to hear her.
Mrs Roberts put her arm up to help the next person off the train but the doors closed on her arm.
The 53-year-old said: "I was screaming for them to open the door, thumping on the train.
"It began to move and I was taking little steps to keep up. I managed to yank my arm free and fell back on the platform.
"I was in agony, I was crying at Petts Wood station. I am so frightened to think what could have happened if the train left."
Mrs Roberts, of Petersham Drive, Orpington, says she dreads to think what would have happened if one of the people with learning disabilities had been caught in the doors.
Two people were stuck on the train as the doors closed and had to stay on the train until it reached Orpington.
The group of five had been on a holiday to Northampton organised through Avenues in Sidcup, a support service for people with learning disabilities.
Mrs Roberts said: "It spoilt a few days away.
"We came back and in seconds something so terrible happened, but it could have been far worse. I don't want to think about it.
"The others are too frightened to get back on a train."
Although the centre is based in Sidcup, it also has accommodation in Johnson's Court, Chislehurst Road, Petts Wood, where the five people were returning to.
Mrs Roberts went to Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, and had her arm put in a sling as she had suffered severe bruising and stretched ligaments.
Southeastern, which operates the train line and the station, says if there is something blocking the doors, they will not close properly.
Only when the doors are closed fully will the driver be able to leave the station.
A spokesman for Southeastern confirmed a complaint had been made about the incident.
He said: "We are sorry to hear what happened to this lady and we are fully investigating the circumstances."
CCTV footage at the station will be checked as part of the investigation.