Injured man lies ‘in the way’ on station stairs, police lash out at impatient travelers

taketonews

‘Respect and decency’ write the Zaanstreek police in capital letters on their Facebook page, because, according to them, many train passengers lacked that today. A 61-year-old man from Purmerend was seriously injured after a fall from a high staircase at Zaandam station. Emergency workers immediately went to help the man, but several travelers saw the victim as an ‘annoying obstacle’ on their route to the train.

After his fall, the man was lying in the middle of the stairs, so that the platform was no longer very accessible. According to the police, some train passengers thought it was more important to be able to catch their train than that of the victim received appropriate assistance from ambulance staff.


“We never get used to it, especially what one of the passers-by literally said: ‘Why don’t you move that man so that I can pass? My train goes.”

Comments

With the call on Facebook, the agents hope for some sympathy. “How would you like the reaction if you or your loved one is lying there”, the police write at the end of their story.

The message has received many responses. “Some people they are just: I, I, I am important and the rest of the world is not,” says someone. Another person says he witnessed it. “We have to nuance certain things. Sir fell down the stairs. At the same time a train arrives. Conductor did not see accident. He did walk directly to the victim and provided first aid and called an ambulance. A full train waited patiently. Wouldn’t it have been smarter to just drive away because again more than enough first responders. Now you got unnecessary chaos and you get situations like this.”

It is unknown how the man is doing at the moment. “We hope he is doing well,” said a police spokesman.

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