Belfast Telegraph

Saturday 27 December 2014

Teenage girl trapped between Dublin Luas tram and platform says she is 'lucky to be alive'

The schoolgirl was trapped between the Luas and platform in Dublin
The schoolgirl was trapped between the Luas and platform in Dublin

The teenage girl who got trapped between a Luas and its platform has said she is lucky to be alive.

Shocking footage emerged of the moment dozens of Dublin commuters freed the young schoolgirl trapped under a Luas tram.

Fifth-year student Maja Dabkowska (16) was rescued when commuters pushed the tram away so she could be freed.

"Can't believe I'm alive, could've died today, it's a miracle I haven't lost my leg," she said on Facebook.

"Got my thigh jammed between the platform and the Luas this morning. No words to describe how thankful I am to all the people that picked the Luas up in order to get me out."

The schoolgirl was involved in a collision with the tram in Dublin's city centre early yesterday.

The incident occurred on the 'Red Line' outside the Jervis Street shopping centre shortly before 9am.

Commuters and passers-by rushed to the teenager's aid, and attempted to push the Luas away from the platform in a bid to free her.

The girl was eventually freed and was rushed to hospital - her injuries are not life-threatening.

The attached footage, filmed by Łukasz Piguła and published to Facebook, shows the moment that the girl became trapped beneath the tram.

Maja, who is originally from Poland but living in Dublin's north inner city with her family, had been due to start her first day in fifth year at the Holy Family school in Rathcoole yesterday.

The youngster was in a rush to get a bus and said she had her earphones in and didn't hear a second Luas coming as she made her way across the tracks until "it was right in front of me, and I panicked and tripped over, it was right in front of me and I scrambled onto the platform but my leg slipped and I didn't make it in time".

She added: "My leg got hit by the Luas and got stuck in between the platform and the Luas up to the very top of my thigh. I slid with the Luas for a meter or two, and then I couldn't move.

"The people were so helpful and got me a bag to lean myself on as I was stuck with my leg sideways. I was there for about 5 minutes. The people then started pushing the Luas, and then they could drag me up after a few minutes. They saved my leg- or my life."

The teenager is on crutches but has no broken bones after her ordeal.

It was one of two incidents on Luas lines yesterday morning, both of which are being investigated by the tram operators.


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