A middle schooler in Australia is in the hospital after an unfortunate accident at a Melbourne train station. The boy, who is a year seven student (equivalent to sixth or seventh grade in the United States), had just left school and gone to the North Melbourne Station with some classmates. When the train came, somehow the boy’s bag got caught. The next thing he knew, he was trapped under the train. Thankfully, those around him acted quickly in an attempt to save his life, but it still took time to free him. Now, he remains in the hospital, and people in his community are trying to figure out how such a thing could have happened.
The school acted quickly to inform the community.
The incident took place in the afternoon on May 11, 2026, as the boy was traveling home from school, The New Daily reported. Mary Farah, principal of St. Aloysius College, sent a message to parents after the accident happened.
“At approximately 4pm today, we received reports that one of our year seven students was involved in an accident at North Melbourne train station,” Farah wrote. “Events like this can be deeply unsettling for our young people. Please be mindful of your child’s wellbeing this evening.”
In the letter, Farah revealed that students had witnessed the accident, but staff from the school responded to the scene quickly to support them and the boy’s family.
There have been a few conflicting accounts of how the middle schooler got so close to the train.
On May 12, a spokesperson from St. Aloysius College released a new statement about the incident, News.com.au reported.
“The college has received no information to suggest the student was attempting to retrieve a mobile phone from the tracks,” the spokesperson shared in the statement. “We have been advised that the student’s bag became caught between the train carriages, which subsequently pulled him onto the tracks.”
According to the principal, it was fellow students who acted quickly to get the boy help, Australia’s ABC News reported.
“A fellow student pressed the platform emergency button and contacted Triple Zero (000), while other students communicated clearly with transport authorities,” she said. Triple Zero is the Australian 911.
“St Aloysius College extends its sincere gratitude to first responders and emergency services personnel who attended the scene, and acknowledges the calm, responsible and decisive actions taken by students present during this distressing situation,” Farah added.
A paramedic who responded to the scene called it ‘traumatic.‘
According to News.com.au and ABC News, the boy was dragged for several meters before the train stopped. He was allegedly trapped for up to an hour as emergency responders worked to get him free. They ended up using a jack to lift the train off of him.
A spokesperson from Ambulance Victoria told News.com.au that the middle schooler was assessed and treated by intensive care and advanced life support paramedics at the scene. “A boy with a serious lower body injury was transported by road ambulance to the Royal Children’s Hospital,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Not many details about exactly what happened to the boy or how he is doing now that he’s been hospitalized have been given. However, everyone says that he is in serious but stable condition.
An investigation into what happened is underway, according to a Metro Trains representative.
“This is a tragic accident involving a young student, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and school community,” the representative shared in a statement. “We thank emergency services and staff for their quick response.”
