Witnesses come forward in IPCC investigation into electric shock of Peterborough man on railway

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) say that several witnesses have come forward, as their investigation continues into how a Peterborough man came to suffer a severe electric shock after running from police.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th May 2016, 07:00 BST
Emergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren BrownEmergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren Brown
Emergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren Brown

Yesterday, Wednesday May 11, an IPCC spokesman said: “The man, who is 27, remains in a critical condition in hospital.

“The IPCC investigation is underway and the organisation is now speaking to several witnesses who came forward following the IPCC witness appeal last month.”

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On Thursday, April 28, emergency services scrambled to the railway tracks behind South Parade Business Park at around 3pm, where the man from Peterborough is believed to have climbed up and come into contact with overhead electrical cables, before falling seven metres to the ground.

Emergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren BrownEmergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren Brown
Emergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren Brown

An air ambulance landed nearby and the injured man was airlifted to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman also confirmed that due to his condition, no charges have yet been made against him.

The man is said to have failed to stop when approached by police in the town centre, before being pursued by officers to the railway line.

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The referral to the IPCC by Lincolnshire Police is standard procedure in circumstances such as these.

Emergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren BrownEmergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren Brown
Emergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren Brown

Several members of the public saw the events unfold. Darren Brown, who was in the nearby Aldi car park at the time, said: “I saw a lot of police and paramedics running backwards and forwards along the train track.

“At first we thought it was a railway worker as a railway worker was there taking pictures of what looked like a tree. We later found out from a Dunelm Mill worker who was talking to an officer that the injured person had been running from officers, climbed up a pole and was electrocuted, and then taken to hospital by the air ambulance.”

Jo Wilson was also passing at the time, and said: “I have just driven down Spittlegate level. Air ambulance, two normal ambulances, six police cars and fire engines are all there.”

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A spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) added: “We received an emergency call at 3.08pm reporting that a man in his late 20s had been electrocuted by overhead wires and then fallen approximately seven metres.

Emergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren BrownEmergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren Brown
Emergency Services at the scene of the incident at Grantham Train Station - Photo: Darren Brown

“We despatched several road ambulances to the incident, including the air ambulance, and liaised closely with all the agencies involved to ensure our staff were not put at risk.”

EMAS confirmed that the patient suffered burns and head injuries, and was treated at the scene before being taken away on a stretcher and flown to hospital.

There is no date yet on when the IPCC will publish the findings of its investigation.