By Cindy Yin
A man has died attempting to cross between two light rail carriages in inner Sydney, with shocked onlookers recounting how he became trapped underneath.
Emergency services were called to Devonshire Street in Surry Hills about 1.15pm on Thursday following reports a pedestrian in his 40s had been struck.
A man is dead after being hit by a tram in Surry Hills.Credit: Edwina Pickles
Police say the man was attempting to cross between two light rail carriages at the Surry Hills stop, when the tram continued its journey, trapping him underneath.
Emergency services lifted the carriage, freed the man and placed him on the platform, where he was treated by paramedics. However, he died at the scene.
“He was waiting on the platform and then stepped off to try and cross the tram line between the carriages,” NSW Police Inspector Anderson Lessing said.
“It appears to be a set of tragic circumstances.”
One shocked witness told Nine News the tragedy happened in the blink of an eye.
“I was standing there, I seen [sic] him at the tram, and I looked away and looked back, he’s under the tram,” she said.
Another nearby resident said they heard the ongoing commotion and knew something tragic had happened.
“I can hear all the sirens, and I look out my living room window and I see all the coppers. I knew something had gone on,” she said.
Emergency services were called to the scene about 1.15pm on Thursday.Credit: Edwina Pickles
The incident temporarily suspended light rail services between Circular Quay and Moore Park, which resumed just after 4pm. Passengers have still been advised to allow extra travel time while services return to their regular frequency.
There are a limited number of replacement buses supplementing some light rail services.
In the aftermath of the man’s death the light rail stop was closed off with police tape, with a NSW Police forensics tent temporarily set up at the scene.
The driver of the light rail has been taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
Howard Collins, co-ordinator general at Transport for NSW, said support would be provided to passengers and light rail staff.
“The first thing I want to say is my condolences to the family of the person involved – the police will make contact with you – but also all those bystanders and witnesses and the staff who got involved,” he said.
“We will ensure everything is done with the operator to help establish the full circumstances surrounding this extremely distressing incident.”
The death follows a fatal accident in May 2023 when a teenage girl become trapped under a light rail in Sydney’s CBD.
Kyra Dulguime, 16, tried to cross the tram line between two carriages when it was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Goulburn and George streets. She was hit when the tram began moving, and the driver stopped at the nearby Chinatown light rail stop after being alerted.
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