Teen killed by train trying to help mate

The teen had gone to get help on the other side of the train line and was returning with a friend when he was hit. Photo / Thinkstock

A Te Kuiti teen "with a great attitude" died while crossing the Te Kuiti railway line as he went to get help for a friend injured at the nearby skate park.

Te Kuiti High School students will this morning deal with the tragic news of fellow student Ngaremu King's death, which has shaken the small King Country town.

The year 10 pupil died on Sunday night after being struck by a north-bound freight train just north of the Te Kuiti railway station, near the iSite, about 6pm.

Waitomo District mayor Brian Hanna said the 14-year-old had been playing with two friends at the skate park on Carroll St/SH3 when one of the boys fell off his bike or skateboard and was injured.

The teen had gone to get help on the other side of the train line and was returning with a friend when he was hit. The friend escaped any injury, Mr Hanna said.

"They shot across the railway line. Of course the overbridge is right there - but they didn't use it."

Mr Hanna said the teen had been described as a "great young man with a great attitude".

Te Kuiti High School principal Bruce Stephens said he was aware of the death and the school would make contact with Ngaremu's family today.

"It will be a huge shock to the kids to lose someone in that way ... he's obviously going to be missed by his friends. Basically we are all feeling for his whanau because it is just the saddest thing for everyone but obviously it's going to be a huge loss for them."

The school would hold an assembly this morning to discuss the tragedy.

"There will be some students who will obviously be more seriously affected than others and we will support them."

Ngaremu's sister attended the school along with a number of relatives, he said.

The family did not respond to a request for comment last night, but a relative said the "family was still trying to get their head around it at the moment".

KiwiRail spokesman David Miller said the train driver was very shaken up and had been given time off.

Police had completed initial inquiries and the incident had been referred to the coroner. Victim Support was working with the victim's family and the train driver.

During the same call-out St John northern communications confirmed it treated another male who was taken to Te Kuiti Hospital with moderate injuries. The 21-year-old was yesterday in a stable condition in a ward at Te Kuiti Hospital.

Sunday's death is the third train fatality in the town in the past four years.

Waitomo District Council planned to get in touch with KiwiRail to consider what could be done to make the area safer and Mr Hanna said more signage and security fences making it hard for people to cross the railway line were possible solutions.