A man died after he apparently fell out of a jam-packed train on Tuesday September 6.
Jeremy Marais, 32, from Scottsville in Kraaifontein, was heading to work in Retreat when he fell out of a moving carriage between Eikefontein and Brackenfell stations.
His body was wrapped around a lamppost. He was travelling with his cousin, Desiree Coetzee, who only discovered he was gone when she arrived at the Brackenfell station.
Ms Coetzee’s father, Desmond, said: “I was on my way to work when my daughter called to say she can’t find Jeremy. I last saw him on Tuesday as they walked off towards the station. I did not realise it would be the last time I would see him alive.”
Ms Coetzee had told him she was standing behind Mr Marais in the carriage, which was “so squashed that the train doors wouldn’t close”.
Mr Coetzee said: “I travelled to Brackenfell station to look for him. I asked at the ticket booth about people falling out of the train, but they knew nothing.
“I then decided to go and look for him on the tracks. A security officer joined me in the search.
“I started running, and when I took a turn, I just stopped, unsure, but there Jeremy was lying, dead, his head near to an iron rod,” he said.
Mr Marais’s wife, Samantha, was too distressed to speak.
Willem Marais, 55, a family member, blamed Jeremy Marais’ death on Metrorail.
“The railway will have to make a plan to improve on their services. People are stuffed into carriages, and then the doors can’t even close,” said Mr Marais.
However Passenger Rail Association of South Africa (PRASA) spokesperson Zino Mihi said according to their reports, Mr Marais had been holding the train doors open.
“According to our control centre reports, the male was standing and keeping the train doors open.
“He therefore fell on the railway tracks between Eikefontein and Brackenfell stations. He is alleged to have died on the scene.
“An ambulance was called but he was certified dead on the scene. An investigation by both the Rapid Rail Police Unit and our Protection Services Investigations team is under way.” – Daily Voice.
