Johannesburg – A man was seriously injured when he attempted to jump on to a moving Gautrain carriage in Sunnyside, Pretoria, Tshwane Emergency Services said on Wednesday.

The man broke both his legs and sustained severe head injuries, said spokesperson Johan Pieterse.

“The man was chased by the police on Tuesday, then he tried getting into the moving Gautrain. We don’t know where was he running from but the police will know.”

Police spokesperson Sergeant Asnath Melatsi said the man was spotted by a domestic worker at a house near Devenish street railway station.

The man ran and jumped over the fence between the house and the railway tracks. He fell several metres before he jumped onto a moving Gautrain where he fell again.

“He was arrested for trespassing. At the moment he is in hospital under police guard.”

Gautrain spokesperson Errol Braithwaite said train services were temporarily delayed between Hatfield and Pretoria.

Services returned to normal after the injured man was taken to hospital.

“It is an extremely dangerous place with very fast, very quiet trains and plenty of potentially lethal equipment.

“We take a very dim view of anyone gaining unauthorised access to the rail reserve and charges of trespassing will be pressed.”
SAPA