A MAN hit by a speeding train had gone on to the tracks to retrieve his mobile phone.

The train was travelling at about 100mph when it struck the man on the tracks near Plough Road in Tibberton, between Droitwich and Worcester, shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday.

The 56-year-old man is believed to have dropped his mobile phone as he looked over the bridge and decided to go down on to the tracks to pick it up.

He received a ‘glancing’ blow from the train and suffered back pain and suspected internal injuries.

Alec Mackie, from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The incident was reported as someone on the track so firefighters were sent to the scene as well.

“A search took place and he was found under the bridge he had (earlier) been leaning over.

“To have survived that he must have been extremely lucky.”

An ambulance, an incident support officer, a senior paramedic manager, a BASICS emergency doctor, paramedics from the hazardous area response team (HART) and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford were dispatched.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find a man on railway tracks who had reportedly received a glancing blow from a train travelling at about 100mph.

“Crews and the doctor on scene administered pain relief to the man and sedated him to stabilise his condition before he was immobilised with a neck collar and spinal board and treated for his injuries.

“The man was transferred to Worcestershire Royal Hospital by land ambulance for further assessment and treatment.”

Train services on the line had to be halted for about an hour while the scene was made safe.

A British Transport Police spokesman said the incident was being treated as non-suspicious.

“The man, whose injuries are not life-threatening, was taken to hospital where he currently remains.

“He suffered a broken pelvis and remains in hospital in a stable condition,” he said.