Lord Blunkett injured after falling into gap at Westminster tube station | David Blunkett




Lord Blunkett is calling for action on “death trap” tube platforms after he was injured falling into the gap at Westminster station.

The Labour peer, who is blind, called on Transport for London to do more to keep visually impaired people safe.

He was getting on a District Line train with his guide dog three weeks ago when his feet slipped.

“As I took a step to get on to the tube train I suddenly felt both my feet disappearing down the gap.

“In an instant my body had been propelled forward into the carriage and I was face down on the floor.

“My legs had somehow been scraped out of the gap and into the carriage.

“I didn’t fully know what had happened. I felt enormous pain in both my legs; they were bruised and grazed,” he wrote in the Sun on Sunday.

Blunkett’s fall came after a recent heart attack that means he must take blood thinners, which make any bruising or bleeding dangerous.

An X-ray confirmed “extraordinary bruising” but no broken leg, and he says he is “angry” about what happened.

“Whenever you step into a tube station in London you hear the tannoy warn people to ‘mind the gap’. But too often there are no staff members to actually help you if, like me, you cannot see.”

He is calling for TfL to make efforts to fill the widest gaps on platforms and make sure there is always someone there to help, especially during rush hour.

“Some of our platforms are death traps. The gap between the walkway and train is huge and they are unsafe for everyone, but particularly for blind people.”

He will soon meet TfL to ask for answers and an urgent review into the safety of the busiest tube stations.

Nick Dent, London Underground’s director of customer operations, said: “We were extremely sorry that Lord Blunkett was injured on our network.

“We have written to, and will be meeting with him to discuss how we could have managed the incident better and to ensure that lessons are learned.

“The safety of our customers and staff is at the forefront of everything we do, and while injuries like the one experienced by Lord Blunkett are rare, we are undertaking a huge range of work aimed at eradicating such incidents and making travelling even safer for everyone.”



Source link

Posted: 2024-11-16 23:40:00

Snap up this Fitbit with 30% off and hit those New Year fitness goals
 



... Read More

Andy Murray and Roger Federer brought in as rival shares emotional Rafael Nadal moment | Tennis | Sport
 



... Read More

England v Germany: women’s international football friendly – live | Friendlies
 



... Read More

Jude Bellingham and Luke Littler on BBC's SPOTY six person shortlist | Other | Sport
 



... Read More

Get Princess Kate’s gorgeous Remembrance poppy for less than £8 | Royal | News
 



... Read More

Barcelona v Manchester City: Women’s Champions League – live | Women's Champions League
 



... Read More

Sir Clive Woodward heaps pressure on English rugby chiefs after worrying claims emerge | Rugby | Sport
 



... Read More

Cheapest supermarket to buy Christmas turkey named - and it's not Asda or Lidl
 



... Read More