Edinburgh man dies after being struck by train in Austria

Grillgasse railway station in Vienna. Picture: Wikicommons

Fraser McGill, 48, was standing on the platform at a suburban railway station in Vienna when he is understood to have stepped backwards accidentally and was then hit by the high speed train.

Local media reported that the man, who is originally from Edinburgh, had been living in the country.

According to police spokesman Thomas Keiblinger, Mr McGill was waiting for a train at Grillgasse railway station in the Simmering neighbourhood of the Austrian capital when the accident took place at around 1am on Wednesday.

He is understood to have moved backwards and stepped too close to the tracks, as the intercity train was passing through the station.

The spokesman said he was thrown violently to the ground by the force of the impact.

He is understood to have been so badly injured that he died at the scene.

The train had not been due to stop at Grillgasse and passed straight through the station.

Police are working on the assumption that his death was a tragic accident.

It remains unclear what post-mortem tests will be carried out and if there is any CCTV that could aid the investigation.

Simmering, where the incident took place, is the 11th district of Vienna and borders the Danube river.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said they would provide any support that Mr McGill’s family might need at this time.

He said: “We are in contact with the local authorities following the death of a British man in Vienna, Austria.

“We are ready to provide support to his family at this difficult time.”

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