Worker critically injured after 15,000-volt shock at German train station
A 56-year-old worker was seriously injured after suffering an electric shock at Haiger-Sechshelden train halt on Monday afternoon. The incident happened around 13:45 while he was carrying out safety work at a height of about 10 metres. Emergency services rushed him to a specialist clinic in Duisburg by helicopter due to the severity of his injuries. The man was working near the railway tracks when the accident occurred. As he threw a measuring tape down the slope, it made contact with the overhead line, delivering a high-voltage shock. The Federal Police later confirmed that railway overhead lines carry 15,000 volts and remain live at all times, even when no trains are running.
The impact of the incident extended beyond the injured worker. Colleagues at the scene were left in shock, requiring support from the emergency chaplaincy. Meanwhile, the affected track was completely blocked from 13:45 until 20:20, causing delays. Eight trains were held up, each facing a delay of around 33 minutes.
The injured worker, a Serbian national, remains in hospital for treatment. Authorities have not released further details on his condition. The Federal Police reiterated warnings about the extreme danger of overhead lines, stressing that they are always electrified.
