Emergencies - Girl in critical condition after electric shock at train station
A 13-year-old girl who was seriously injured after climbing onto a freight train in Schwerte due to an electric shock is in a critical condition, according to police reports. The police spokeswoman added that they would handle future statements regarding the girl's health status sensitively in the coming days.
It may only be clear in three to four days how her condition develops. Preliminary police findings suggest that the girl climbed onto the train to take video recordings. She touched the overhead power line and suffered an electric shock and severe burns, the policewoman stated.
Helicopter rescue in operation
Furthermore, the girl was reportedly thrown several meters through the air and eventually to the ground. The police initially reported her age as 12 years old on Monday.
A German Railways employee noticed the incident and initiated the emergency response. A 15-year-old companion of the girl provided first aid. The girl was flown to a specialist clinic on Monday using a rescue helicopter.
Previous serious electrical incidents
According to the police, the girl was with five other adolescents aged between 14 and 16 at the freight yard. The other adolescents were heavily affected by shock and were psychologically supported by the fire department, the police reported.
There have been several serious electrical incidents at the Schwerte railway station in the past. In February 2024, an 18-year-old died as a result of an electric shock while on a freight train. In April 2023, a 13-year-old died after being electrocuted. Both had climbed onto freight trains.
Warning signs at the installation
Following the incidents, the German Railways and the fire department, in cooperation with the police and the city, installed a warning sign on the station platform in mid-May of this year. The warning sign, with text and symbols, warns of the danger of entering the railway tracks.
The Bundespolice are currently investigating whether the warning signs at the site are sufficient and whether they could be supplemented with English warnings. Among the youths present during the latest incident were Ukrainian citizens.
More prevention
Translating the warning signs into all languages is difficult and hardly feasible, a police spokeswoman told dpa on inquiry. However, the English translation and other possible safety measures at the affected installation are being internally reviewed.
In cooperation with the German Railways, more prevention measures will also be taken. We will check, for example, whether further educational events can be organized at schools to sensitize students, teachers, and staff to the dangers of railway installations, the spokeswoman added. Already in the past, such events have been held to inform schoolgirls and boys about the risks.
- The emergency response was initiated by a German Railways employee after they noticed the girl's situation on the freight train.
- The fire department provided psychological support to the other adolescents who were present at the freight yard and were heavily affected by shock.
- The incident occurred at the North Rhine-Westphalia's Schwerte railway station, a location with a history of serious electrical emergencies.
- The girl suffered an electric shock and severe burns after touching the overhead power line on the freight train.
- A 15-year-old companion of the girl provided first aid before she was flown to a specialist clinic using a rescue helicopter.
- The Federal Police are investigating the adequacy of the warning signs at the site and whether they could be supplemented with English warnings.
- Previous investigations revealed that an 18-year-old died from an electric shock while on a freight train at the same station in February 2024, and a 13-year-old died after being electrocuted in April 2023.
- German Railways and the police are planning to organize educational events at schools to sensitize students, teachers, and staff to the dangers of railway installations.
