Woman's leg trapped in platform gap at Jurong East MRT station

A woman's leg was stuck in the platform gap at Jurong East MRT station yesterday morning, delaying train services for a few minutes.

Station staff responded immediately to the incident after other commuters notified them.

The incident was photographed by a commuter, who uploaded a photo of it.

It shows the woman squatting on the floor of the train, with her right hand holding onto the open train door for support.

Two female SMRT staff assist the woman.

A netizen said it happened on an eastbound train headed to Pasir Ris, reported Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao.

STAFF FREE WOMAN

A SMRT spokesman confirmed the incident happened at about 9.30am and told The New Paper that its staff promptly freed the woman.

Said Mr Patrick Nathan, SMRT vice-president of corporate information and communications: "Commuters immediately notified station staff using the emergency communication button.

"Station staff were able to safely free the passenger's leg within minutes."

Netizens speculated on what could have caused the woman to fall into the gap, with some blaming the crowds for pushing her while the train doors were closing.

Said Facebook user Paul Anthony Soh: "It's hard to mind the gap if you're getting squeezed as tight as a pack of sardines."

SMRT did not comment if the woman was in any danger, but Mr Nathan said she was able to continue with her journey.

"We would like to remind commuters to put safety first, especially when train doors are about to close to avoid any mishaps or accidents," he said.

TNP understands that the train is designed to move only when the doors are closed.

This is the latest incident involving a commuter falling through the gap.

In March, a female junior college student fell knee-deep into the gap at Hougang MRT station until a station staff member freed her using liquid soap as lubricant.

The gap in underground stations is about 10cm and is to accommodate the train's movement as it "sways slightly when in motion", an SMRT spokesman had said previously.

ngjunsen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 7, 2015.
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