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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Liam Buckler

University student hit by train loses part of her leg and suffers crushed skull

A university student hit by a train has had part of her leg amputated and suffered a crushed skull after she lost her footing.

Ava Harlow, 20, from Amesbury in Massachusetts, US, became trapped underneath a moving train at the BU Central Station in Boston on January 27.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority police were called to the scene at around 11.30pm after the student got off at her stop with her friends but realised some of them were still onboard.

Ms Harlow then knocked on the train window to try and get their attention and signal for them to get off.

Shen then moved forward and somehow slipped and fell underneath the moving train which then dragged her across the tracks.

Emergency services were called to rescue the student who was hit by a train (Boston Fire Department)

Shen then moved forward and somehow slipped and fell underneath the moving train which then dragged her across the tracks.

Emergency services were immediately called after horrified eyewitnesses tried to get the train staff's attention.

Firefighters, police and the transportation authorities were all summoned to try and help rescue the Bridgewater State University student.

She was eventually saved from the train and quickly rushed to hospital where she had to be resuscitated twice before she was brought to an ICU and intubated, according to her dad, Andrew Harlow.

Mr Harlow told CBS Boston “the dreaded 3 a.m. phone call that no parent wants to receive” left him devastated.

He revealed the student lost one of her legs and broke the other.

The student is undergoing treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital (gofundme)

In addition, she also suffered a fractured skull, a crushed pelvis, a broken arm and cuts to her face.

However, Ava remains grateful to the emergency staff who rescued her after firefighters and paramedics helped save her life.

Mr Harlow said: “The first thing she mentioned after she was extubated was the guys.”

Since the incident he has blamed the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for the accident and has recruited a lawyer on his daughter's behalf.

“He could have [seen] that she was banging on the friggin’ side of the car and not pulled away,” the parent told the Boston Herald

“They have mirrors. They have horns. They’re supposed to toot the horn before they take off.”

However, the authority hit back and the accident "does not appear to be the result of any mechanical or MBTA employee failure."

A group of Ava's friends have since launched a GoFundMe to help pay towards her medical bills and expenses.

Her friends wrote: “She’s hardworking, smart, funny, and has a big heart. Her parents, Jamie and Andrew, have to watch their only daughter go through this and we want to help make this awful situation a little better in any way possible."

More than $42,000 (£34,000) has been raised since the fundraiser launched.

Ava currently remains in hospital receiving treatment.

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