Train victim 'died as result of a freak accident'

A man killed by a train at Takanini in Manukau City this afternoon was crossing the track to dump garden refuse, police have said.

They said the man, aged in his 50s, was carrying rubbish over his shoulder, and apparently did not see or hear the train as he crossed the track.

His name will be released when relatives overseas have been informed.

Meanwhile, police said they were still trying to identify the body of a woman killed when she was hit by a train at the Puhinui railway station near Manukau City on Tuesday.

The woman, aged in her 40s or 50s, was Maori or Polynesian.

She walked in front of a train late on Tuesday night but police said today strenuous efforts to identify her had failed and they needed public help.

The woman was 165cm tall, with a medium build and short black hair. She was wearing a purple beanie, a grey long-sleeve jersey with a half zip over the top of a green long-sleeve jersey which had a floral design around the neck, and long grey pants.

She also had on a gold-coloured woman's wrist watch, a white metal pendant with the word love on a glitter green background, two gold half moon shaped earrings and a yellow and gold-coloured necklace with black and clear stones.

- NZPA