A man seen on fire after coming into contact with overhead cables at a Birmingham train station is in a life-threatening condition in hospital.
Paramedics, police and firefighters were called after reports that a man had been seriously injured at Birmingham New Street station on Sunday at about 8am. A British Transport Police spokeswoman said that paramedics and police had arrived quickly at the scene and treated the man for “burns injuries”.
“At this early stage it’s believed he came into contact with the overhead power lines,” she said. “He has been taken to hospital where his condition is described as life-threatening. The circumstances of the man receiving his injuries at this time are not believed to be suspicious.”
Platforms were closed while emergency services responded to the incident, causing travel disruption until about 10am.
National Rail had said on its website: “Emergency services are currently dealing with an incident at Birmingham New Street. Consequently, there are a reduced number of platforms at the station, and this means that trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised.”
The station has since reopened and services are running as normal, police said.
One person, calling himself Davey boy, posted on Twitter that he saw a “man on fire” at the station.
incident new street station Birmingham..,. man on fire
— Davey boy (@Daveybo89012351) December 1, 2019
Another, named Hannah, reported seeing six ambulances, police, the fire brigade and an air ambulance.
West Midlands Air Ambulance landing at New Street Car Park 🚁. pic.twitter.com/CxtaIdvHWw
— Nanz (@NanzVacz) December 1, 2019
Footage circulating on social media appears to show an air ambulance landing in the station’s car park on Sunday morning.
