Woman appeals to find crossing fall rescuer (From Gazette)

Woman appeals to find Alresford crossing fall rescuer

9:00am Tuesday 6th September 2011 in Local News By Andrea Collitt

A WOMAN who was knocked over by a level crossing barrier is trying to trace the teenager who came to her aid.

Betty Bird, 83, was sent sprawling when the gate hit her, leaving her concussed and sprawled on the railway line.

She had walked under the gates at Coach Road, Alresford, after a train had passed and the gates had risen.

She says she was not given enough time to cross the line before they went down again.

Mrs Bird said: “I was probably halfway across and the bell went again. The thing came down and that was it.”

The barrier knocked her backwards and she hit her head as she landed on the tracks. A teenage girl who had crossed just before her came back to help her.

Mrs Bird said: “I asked the girl if I was safely off the track and she said I wasn’t.

“She helped me up and we walked round to the open gate.

“I was so lucky nothing broke.”

Mrs Bird said the girl stayed with her to make sure she was all right, before a friend arrived to help her.

She was taken home and advised by her doctor to get checked over at hospital, where she was diagnosed as having concussion. She still has bruises on her back, shoulder, head and elbows, but is otherwise none the worse for the fall.

Mrs Bird said she would like to contact the girl who helped her, so she could thank her properly.

She said she was about 5ft 5ins, of medium build, with long hair.

She said: “I was talking to her before the train came and she said she was about to start at the sixth form college and was going to walk someone’s dog.”

Network Rail has denied any problems with the crossing gates, but said British Transport Police would be investigating the incident.

A spokesman said: “A pedestrian appears to have started crossing despite sirens and the warning lights flashing.”

A police spokesman said: “Officers are reviewing CCTV of the incident and speaking to witnesses.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident can call British Transport Police on 0800 405040 quoting reference 226 of 01/09/2011.