Emergency services at scene of crash after pedestrian hit by Cockle Train at McCracken

An 87-year-old man from overseas has died after being hit by Victor Harbor’s historic Cockle Train, which was packed with holiday makers.

An 87-year-old man from overseas is dead after being hit by the iconic Cockle Train on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The pedestrian was struck by the tourist train at McCracken, about 80km from Adelaide, during its final journey of the day from Goolwa to Victor Harbor.

About 3.20pm on Thursday, police and ambulance crews were called to Hayward St at McCracken, near Victor Harbor.

The Advertiser understands the man was with his family in Victor Harbor.

There were up to 150 passengers on the train at the time who were returned to Victor Harbor on buses.

Passenger Mark Robinson, 40, from Gawler, said he was with his wife, Jenna, 38, and three children – Isabella, 15, Bailey, 13, and Hudson, 9 – in one of the front carriages when the accident happened.

An 80-year-old man has died after being struck by the Cockle Train at McCracken. Picture: Morgan Sette

Emergency services are at the scene. Picture: Morgan Sette

“It looks like someone’s been hit and they’ve been flung under the train or to the side and landed at the back of the train,” Mr Robinson said.

“We looked out our window and saw a white sheet at the back of the train.

“It seems like someone was trying to cross (the track) at a set of stairs.”

Mr Robinson said they didn’t hear or see anything but heard other passengers say they saw the train driver running past their carriage with a first aid kit.

“My wife said a few of the passengers at the back of the train were quite distressed.”

The train driver was taken to hospital suffering from shock.

Mr Robinson, who was holidaying with his family in Victor Harbor and took the train for the first time, said SES, fireys and ambulance officers were on the scene and police were quick to usher passengers to the front carriages.

He praised the volunteers on the train saying they were calm and kept passengers informed the whole time.

A witness said the train driver ran to the hit pedestrian to provide first aid. Picture: Morgan Sette

Around 150 passengers were taken to Victor Harbor by bus. Picture: Morgan Sette

Police have closed off Hayward St between Heggerton and Alexander streets and motorists are being advised to avoid the area.

A holiday maker staying in a nearby beach, who did not wish to be named, said he saw two elderly people walk down Hayward St to meet police officers near the foot of his driveway.

“There was an elderly man and a woman, they were coming from opposite ways, who spoke to the police just down there at the end of my driveway,” the man said.

“They just stopped in the middle of the road and hugged each other for about five minutes.

“There were cars going around them because they were in the middle of the road. They looked like they were comforting each other.”

St Peters resident Georgina Duncan, 50, has a beach house on the Esplanade just 100m from the rail line.

“I heard this one long whistle from the train line but I didn’t think anything of it because we hear it all the time,” Mrs Duncan said.

“I was in the bathroom getting ready for our party and then my husband came out of the bedroom and said: ‘Something’s happened down there’.”

The Cockle Train is operated by SteamRanger.

In a statement, SteamRanger customer service manager Steven Richardson said the train struck

“a male person who was on the railway track adjacent to the Hayborough Beach”.

“SteamRanger’s first priority is to look after the welfare of our customers and train crew,” Mr Richardson said.

“The Cockle Train will remain on site until SAPOL, and the Office of National Rail Safety Regulator representatives attend the incident site.”

According to the company’s website, the train travels along the oldest steel railway in Australia.

The train travels from Goolwa to Victor Harbor, starting its trip at the wharf precinct near the Murray Mouth and finishing in the Victor Harbor town centre.

Victor Harbor mayor Moira Jenkins said the incident was “an absolute tragedy”.

“My condolences go out to the entire Victor Harbor community and the family of the person as well,” Dr Jenkins said.

“We’ll wait for the findings of the police investigation, but my heart goes out to everyone who has been affected, especially at this time of the year.”