A commuter has died after attempting to cross over a light rail by slipping between two carriages near Sydney’s CBD.
The man, believed to be in his 40s, was fatally injured after he was hit by the light rail on Devonshire Street, in Surry Hills, about 1.15pm on Thursday.
The man, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene.
Workers at the scene were examining the connecting point between the two carriages in the aftermath of the tragedy.
NSW Police said a crime scene has been established with an investigation into how the incident unfolded is underway. The man’s body was later removed from the scene.
Police Inspector Anderson Lessing is expected to hold a press conference at 4pm.
A woman living in the housing commission beside the Surry Hills station told Daily Mail she ‘heard screams’.
Police and paramedics, including intensive care officers, attended the scene.
A large tent and several blue tarps have blocked the public’s view of the operation with officers seen scolding several people who came too close.
Witnesses Robin and Stella said they saw commuters running from the scene.
‘There was a crowd coming down Devonshire and then sirens blaring up here. We didn’t hear nothing, didn’t see nothing, but with the amount of security personnel, fire engines and rescue cops, we figured it was something bad,’ Robin said.
‘Probably about 100 people just started running and saying, “Don’t go up there”.’
The light rail network has been closed all the way to Moore Park in the city’s east, with commuters urged to expect delays into Thursday evening.
Transport for NSW said L2 and L3 services were affected.
The news comes a little over two years after 16-year-old Kyra Dulguime was killed by a light rail in Sydney CBD.
In May 2023, the girl tried to cross the tracks between two carriages when the tram was stopped at a red light at the near the light rail stop in Chinatown.
When the tram suddenly started moving, she became trapped under one of the carriages and was dragged up the road before the driver came to a stop.
Police and fire crews battled for nearly two hours to free the girl from the tracks, but she later died at the scene.
Mohammed Aqil Abdulla, 29, was working the night shift at TSG Tobacco Station near the Chinatown stop when he heard terrifying screams.
‘The tram dragged her from the lights to the next platform, roughly 200metres,’ he told Daily Mail .
‘She was stuck in between the compartments.’
Mr Abdulla said he had heard the girl had attempted to cross between carriages when the tram was stationary at traffic lights.
‘She wanted to jump from the other side, but suddenly the light changed, and she was stuck in between,’ he said.
‘Witnesses were screaming “Help her! Help her!”. The police and paramedics rushed to the spot, but I think she was dead on the spot.’