Woman killed by train when her ugg boot becomes stuck

A passer-by desperately tried to save the girl but watched in horror as the train hit her.

The victim, who was in her late 20s, became trapped as she tried to cross a railway line after the crossing gates had shut.

One of the trendy Ugg Boots she was wearing got caught between the slats of the wooden guard at the level crossing at Hythe station in Colchester, Essex.

She was unable to move until passer-by, Jonathan Smith, intervened.

The IT student managed to help the woman free her foot seconds before the impact.

But he said that instead of getting out of the way of the train she tried to follow her boyfriend to the other side of the tracks.

Mr Smith, 18, said he went through the barriers and when he saw the woman had her foot stuck he grabbed her hand and she managed to free her foot.

"I had her in my arms. She was safe. But her boyfriend screamed at her to get to the other side," he said.

"I said 'Stay on this side’ but he told her 'This is my train, I’ve got to be on this side of the track’.

At this point, Mr Smith said the train was only about 25 feet away but the driver did not have a chance to stop.

"She just curled up in a ball and her boyfriend jumped out of the way," he said.

"I tried to help her but I slipped because it was wet. It was just luck that I wasn’t hit.

"I was still holding her hand when the train came but my friend told me to let go, otherwise I would lose my arm. I just went into shock afterwards.”

Despite Mr Smith's brave attempt to save the woman, identified locally as Kelly, she was killed instantly when a train travelling at between 40 and 50mph careered into her.