Boy, 11, who died in train accident named

An 11-year-old boy has died after a train hit him at the Papatoetoe railway station.

Jeremiah Tito was with extended family members and using a pedestrian crossing near the station when he was struck just after 6pm.

The boy, from Papatoetoe, was taken to Middlemore Hospital, where he was last night undergoing surgery.

But police said this morning that he died three hours after the accident. He was originally said by police to be aged 7, but this was later corrected to 11.

Train operator Veolia Transport general manager Chris White said the train crew worked on the boy until an ambulance arrived.

He said the southbound train was slowing down to stop at the station when the accident happened.

"I can't speculate why he moved in front of the train...it is under investigation," Mr White said.

He said the train crew was deeply affected by the tragedy and they were being given counselling and time-off to deal with it.

There was very little the crew could do, he said. "It is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family."

He said passengers would be offered counselling through victim support.

The southbound train was delayed at the station for up to half an hour while police made inquiries.

- NZPA