A RAILWAY worker from Essex is in a critical condition after being hit by a train as he crossed the tracks in heavy snow.Adrian Harris, 40, of Clacton, was seriously injured when he was struck by a train on the outskirts of London after finishing his train driver shift.

By Juliette Maxam

A RAILWAY worker from Essex is in a critical condition after being hit by a train as he crossed the tracks in heavy snow.

Adrian Harris, 40, of Clacton, was seriously injured when he was struck by a train on the outskirts of London after finishing his train driver shift.

As he walked along tracks between Ilford and Seven Kings stations at 9.40pm on January 28, the night of heavy blizzards, he was struck by a Shenfield-bound train as it took a bend at 40mph.

The shocked driver sounded his horn and applied the emergency brakes after seeing Mr Harris' high visibility jacket, but was unable to avoid the collision.

Mr Harris, who lives with his partner Kay and their young daughter Ellie, suffered multiple injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene for almost two hours before it was safe for him to be moved.

He was taken by ambulance to the intensive care unit at Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, where he remains in a critical condition.

Sgt Bill Woolford, of British Transport Police, said: "Luckily an off-duty police officer and a nurse were on the train involved so first aid was given to Mr Harris immediately and until paramedics arrived.

"The driver of the train was very distressed by the incident as you can imagine, particularly because the man was a colleague of his."

An investigation into the incident is being carried out by the Rail Inspectorate branch of the Health and Safety Executive. The incident is being treated as an industrial accident.

First Great Eastern has launched its own investigation.

Yesterday Oliver Peacock, of Goodys Solicitors, Colchester, released a statement on behalf of Mr Harris' partner, saying she was very grateful for "the help and support of family and friends and the wonderful work being done by the Royal London Hospital".

Colleagues of Mr Harris said they were still in shock over the incident and were being regularly updated on his condition.

One said: "He's in a bad way but we've been told he is stable and on breathing apparatus. Our thoughts go out to him."