Dad of Adelaide schoolboy hit by train begs son to ‘keep fighting’
The father of 11-year-old Rhyle Abiado said he holds his son's hand and tells him to 'stay with me'.
The father of an 11-year-old boy struck by a train in Adelaide says the family is waiting on the results of a brain scan to determine the extent of his injuries.
It’s been two days since the Year 7 student was hit at Tambelin Railway Station in Evanston Gardens and rushed to the Women’s and Children’s hospital with critical injuries.
Marvin Abiado says his son Rhyle is now in a stable condition but remains in intensive care with head injuries, Seven News reported.
“I always hold his hand and say you’re going to stay with me, and just keep on fighting and keep strong,” he told the news outlet.
Witnesses panicked as boy lay on tracks
Rhyle was walking to class at Trinity College on Tuesday morning when he was struck by the train just before 8.15am.
Witnesses say he’d been crossing the tracks with his friends at the time.
“[They were] waiting for the boom gate to nearly get down and then running, and this poor kid was the last one and the train hit him,” one witness told Seven News.
While strangers, classmates and teachers from the school rushed to the scene, those on board the train, which had come to a stop, were “running up and banging on the door”, another witness told the broadcaster. “They were really panicked, it was really, really scary.”
Father believes situation may have been preventable
Rhyle was reportedly on the tracks, still conscious and breathing, for about 18 minutes before emergency services arrived.
Thanking those who supported his son, Mr Abiado said he still is uncertain what happened at the time of the incident but said the situation may have been preventable and the pedestrian crossing could be made safer.
Police are investigating and are appealing for anyone with information that may assist them to contract Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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