Australia: A man in his seventies has died after being struck by an express train after his dog reportedly panicked and pulled him onto the tracks. The dog is alive and in the custody of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Ambulance officers attended the accident but could not revive the man. Ray Rowe, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Ambulance Service, said they had no indications that it was a suicide.

“It is believed the man and his dog were waiting at the pedestrian crossing on Mitcham Rd when the dog became spooked by the passing train,” said Allison Noonan, a police spokesperson.

Dog drags man to death at rail crossing

AN elderly man died after his dog panicked and dragged him into the path of an oncoming express train in Melbourne’s east.

The man, in his 70s, was waiting to cross the tracks on Mitcham Rd, Mitcham, about 5.20pm when the east-bound passenger train was approaching, Victoria police said.

“It is believed the man and his dog were waiting at the pedestrian crossing on Mitcham Rd when the dog became spooked by the passing train,” Victoria Police spokeswoman Allison Noonan said.

“The dog dragged him onto the tracks, into the path of the oncoming express.”

The Mitcham man’s identity has not been released.

Trains were delayed for some time on the Lilydale line, Ms Noonan said.

Traffic was completely blocked on major arterial roads nearby, including the Maroondah Highway.

Metropolitan Ambulance Service spokesman Ray Rowe said paramedics arrived at the scene but the man could not be revived.

“He was deceased (when ambulance officers arrived),” Mr Rowe said.

Police are preparing a report for the coroner.

The dog survived and is the care of the RSPCA.