Railway tragedy (From Barry And District News)

Railway tragedy

BARRY railway lines have claimed another young victim.

Almost six weeks to the day Ben Greening was killed by a passenger train as he walked home from Dinas Powys, 15-year-old Angharad Raworth was struck as she walked home to Dinas Powys along tracks.

After this second tragedy, calls are being made for better footpaths around the whole area. Councillor Val Hartrey raised the matter with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, and has been told they are investigating the situation.

The popular girl celebrated her 15th birthday on October 12, and was in the same year as Ben in St Cyres.

Her family is devastated by her death.

Thinking they had missed the last train, Angharad and her boyfriend walked along tracks between Barry Dock and Cadoxton station when the disaster happened on Saturday, November 1.

At 12.10, a train returning to Cardiff Central station struck Angharad, but her boyfriend was thrown clear.

Angharad's stepfather, Andrew Vesey, said: "Saturday was a wild night.

The rain was lashing down, and the couple had gone into Barry for the night.

All I can guess is that they thought they had missed the train, and were walking back to the village.

With all that wind, they would never have heard the engine behind them until it was too late."

Andrew and Angharad's mum Sian were informed of the accident at 2.30am on Sunday, and the British Transport Police rushed them straight to the University Hospital of Wales in the Heath.

Andrew added: "The staff at the hospital were incredible - so professional. Angharad had been hit on the back of her head, which controls the lungs, so she wasn't breathing on her own.

But one of her greatest wishes, should the worse happen, was to donate her organs. "The hospital ran tests, and made all the arrangements for us.

Then they turned off the machines keeping her alive and she was pronounced dead at 1.55pm on Sunday.

"We're sure Angharad would have been pleased to know her death saved three other people. Her kidneys and liver were going to be used.

And as we were leaving the hospital, there was a two-and-a-half year old child in Birmingham who had a perfect tissue match for Angharad's heart.

It does help knowing that."