Man run over by 300 trains after driver mistakes his body for a dead fox

A MAN had to be identified by a severed foot still left in his shoe after he was mistaken for a dead animal and continually run over.

LONDON Tube staff left a 47-year-old man’s body to be run over by 300 trains — after mistaking him for a fox.

The victim’s remains were left mangled on the tracks for 14 hours while the Piccadilly Line continued running, The Sun reports.

A train automatically stopped just before 11.30am on December 28 after a rear trip switch was activated. But a manager who went to investigate believed he had simply found the carcass of a dead fox.

The service resumed as normal — and the London Underground now faces claims staff were under pressure not to disrupt commuters.

The blunder meant by the time police were finally called hours later, they were left trying to identify the victim using fingerprints and a severed foot still in a shoe.

The incident happened at 11.27am on December 28, just 160 metres into the tunnel at Holborn in the direction of Russell Square. A manager was sent out to check the area but reported seeing a fox lying dead.

A man was run over by London Tube trains 300 times after his body was mistaken for that of a fox.. Picture: Chris Ratcliffe

A source told The Sun: “He advised the line controllers at Earls Court that the body he could see the carcass of was that of a fox or numerous foxes, possibly a family of foxes.

“It is important to note, no distinguishing fox parts were found, like the fox’s tail.”

The service was allowed to run until 1.42am the next day, when cops were finally called and the remains declared human.

CCTV was then checked and a person was seen entering the tunnel at Holborn.

A source told The Sun up to 26 trains an hour would have passed along the line in the 14 hours that the body was allowed to lie there.

Figures released in 2010 showed the Piccadilly line had the third highest number of suicide attempts, with 92 over a ten year period.

A report last year found there were 15 suicides overall on the London Underground between 2016 and 2017.

British Transport Police said: “We were called at 1.42am on 29 December to reports that a body had been found in the tunnel between Holborn and Russell Square stations.

“A 47-year-old man from Maidstone was declared dead at the scene.

“The death was not believed to be suspicious and so a file was prepared for the coroner.”

A Transport for London spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who was found in the tunnel between Holborn and Russell Square stations on 29 December 2017.

“We are unable to comment further at this time pending the conclusion of the coroner’s inquest.”

If you or anyone you know needs help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished here with permission.