‘Mind the gap!’

ITN readers who have ridden the London Underground and trains are familiar with the unending “Mind the gap” announcements at each station and the weak jokes associated with them. I even have an English postcard with “Mind the gap” printed on it in big black letters.

While on a port stop during a cruise in April ’08, my companion and I were returning by SNCF train from Paris to the Le Havre, France, terminus. We waited until the crowd had left the train, and as I stepped onto the station platform I was shocked to see someone wedged between the carriage and the platform. A woman’s legs were above the platform and her shoulders down on the track. Her companion was trying to pull her up.

I immediately helped, but she was tightly wedged. At this point, I was concerned that the train might leave. Luckily, this was a terminus and it did not. The other gentleman was able to climb down to the track and started pushing/lifting the woman up.

Eventually, we were able to get the poor lady onto the platform. She was in shock and had facial injuries. I ran toward the station, which by then was totally deserted, and caught an employee just before he closed a door upon leaving. In moments, a wheelchair and help were on their way.

The trauma of this will surely be with the woman each time she boards or alights from a train or the subway.

Of all the undergrounds in the world, England’s is the only one on which I have heard warnings issued. Now I know that such platform accidents actually can happen.

GEORGE HOWARD

San Diego, CA