Dog dragged to its death by train after lead got trapped in doors

A Shih Tzu was dragged to its death after its lead became stuck in train doors.

Eight-month-old Jonty became trapped when his disabled owner Rose Barry, 75, tried to board the train with her walking frame and luggage.

The doors closed, trapping her hand, and while she was able to pull herself free, the lead remained stuck.

She desperately tried to tug the lead out, but it was too thin to be picked up by the door sensors.

The train left with the animal still trapped, and Jonty was found dead in a tunnel eight hours later on September 7 last year.

Retired nurse Rose described screaming for help as Jonty was dragged along the platform, saying still no one came to her aid.

An investigation has now concluded into what happened in the accident at Elstree and Borehamwood station in Hertfordshire.

An investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) stated that the driver said he had ‘no recollection of seeing the passenger or her dog in the monitors’.

But an inspection of the recorded CCTV images found that Ms Barry was ‘clearly visible, standing in close proximity to the train’, the report found.

The RAIB highlighted that the driver carried out his final safety check before departure in no more than 1.1 seconds.

Guidelines recommend checks should take around 13.5 seconds.

Ms Barry, who has back problems, said at the time of the accident on the Thameslink service: ‘It was terrible.

‘There is a curve in the platform and either the driver couldn’t, or failed to, look at the CCTV.

‘He should have been able to see me standing there, half on the train.

‘Obviously he didn’t because the doors shut and he left immediately. There was no hesitation.

‘I hammered the doors (and) yelled at everybody.’

GTR head of safety Mark Whitley said: ‘This was a deeply upsetting incident and we are very sorry for the distress caused to the dog’s owner.

‘As well as informing the Rail Accident Investigation Branch when it happened, we launched our own investigation immediately and have already introduced new guidance to drivers about the optimum time needed before departing, in line with the Branch’s recommendations.’