BBC Breakfast viewers ‘heartbroken’ as mum recounts harrowing death of son on train tracks

BBC Breakfast viewers have been left ‘heartbroken’ after a mum recounted the harrowing death of her son on train tracks.

Wednesdays programme saw Jon Kay solemnly introduce the segment saying: “We’re about to show you a really powerful video.

“It’s not something we normally do show something in full like this but it’s a really important story and we decided we would do that because of its importance.”

The video showed a young actor playing the part of 11-year-old Harrison Ballantyne, who died after being hit by 25,000 volts of electricity in June 2017.

After the powerful video had played, Jon and co-host Sally Nugent spoke to Harrison’s mum Liz, who has worked with Network Rail on the video to try and raise awareness about safety.

Explaining why she had wanted the video to be made, Liz said: “People talk to their children about online safety and stranger danger and they teach them to swim but they don’t teach them about this.

“These places are death traps, so so dangerous.”

She then detailed what happened to her son, who had gone on an adventure with his friends after school.

The pals had been kicking Harrison’s football around on a bridle path when it had gone over a fence, and he went to retrieve it.

She said: “The ball got kicked onto a bridge and on the bridge was what the boys thought was an abandoned train, which would suggest it wasn’t dangerous.”

Harrison had gone over the fence and up a bank, where there was no barrier, leading him straight onto the track side.

She continued: “He got the ball, on the way back he went to throw the ball to his friends and the overhead cables arched and electrocuted him and threw him off the top.”

There was nothing his friends or paramedics could do to save him and Harrison died at the scene.

Jon asked Liz what her son was like and she said emotionally: “A lovely character, loved by everybody. He was funny, always wanted to make other people smile.

“He left an imprint on everyone that knew him.”

BBC Breakfast viewers were heartbroken for Liz and her family over their tragic loss, with one writing on Twitter: “WOW RIP Harrison very touching and hard hitting.”

Sharing the campaign video, another added: “I just saw this on #BBCbreakfast. They interviewed his mum and my heart was breaking. Please, if your children are old enough to be out without you please please show them this….”

A fellow viewer tweeted: “#BBCBreakfast what a moving and tragic film, I really hope this helps to get the message across RIP Harrison.”

Meanwhile a fourth wrote: “No one should have to lose a child this way.. Let’s educate children on the dangers of railways Rip Harrison.”

You can watch Harrison’s Story here. BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One.