A passenger on the derailed Southern Rail train near Lewes, East Sussex, has spoken out about the terrifying ordeal on This Morning, saying it was "a miracle" they were alright.
Tracy McGregor was travelling on the service from London Victoria to Eastbourne on Thursday afternoon when three carriages toppled over, trapping passengers inside. Around 150 people were on board, and two were rushed to major trauma centres with "severe" injuries, while a total of 20 needed hospital care.
Passenger recounts terrifying moments
Speaking via a live video interview from her family home in Eastbourne, Tracy revealed she had been sitting in one of the back carriages, which tipped onto its side as it derailed. She said she felt "completely fine last night" but woke up this morning shaking, adding: "I still feel, you know, it's still very real to me the after effects of it all. I'm just overwhelmingly relieved more than anything."
Tracy revealed that she had been shopping in London and, while she usually drives when making the journey from Eastbourne, she chose the train on this particular day as she thought it would be "easier".
Crash position and escape
It was roughly three quarters of the way back when it felt as if the train had struck "an enormous bump", where the carriage then lurched left before swinging right before crashing off the rails and onto the ground. Tracy, who was facing backwards and positioned herself in the "crash position", said the train simply kept on "travelling and travelling and travelling", adding: "It felt like for ages and just honestly during those moments, just thought there's going to be a mighty crash and goodness knows how this is going to end, but I didn't think it was going to end well. Put it that way."
Once the train had ground to a halt, Tracy and her fellow passengers remained silent until panic broke out. Fortunately, several brave fellow travellers scrambled up onto the roof - which had essentially become the doors and windows due to the train lying on its side - and succeeded in forcing open the doors to enable passengers to get out.
Aftermath and reaction
Many passengers managed to scramble out of the doors, where people were on hand to help them. However, Tracy revealed: "But of course quite a lot of people weren't able to do the climbing and to get out so they were stuck on the train and some people were injured and there was quite a lot of blood and people had suitcases all flying around and you can imagine it's just carnage really."
Tracy, who thankfully didn't require any medical treatment herself, said she is currently coming to terms with the shock and mentioned that passengers began embracing each other after the incident. Reflecting on the ordeal, she added "You know, we really felt blessed that we were alright, it was a miracle really."
