Lewes train derailment: Mother tells of 'terrifying' ordeal trapped on Eastbourne-bound train with five-month-old baby
A mother has spoken of the ‘terrifying’ moment she held her five-month-old baby as tightly as she could when an Eastbourne-bound train derailed near Lewes on Thursday (August 13).
Angela Cruz López was travelling on the 14:24 Southern service from London Victoria to Eastbourne with her younger sister and her infant daughter, Sophia Valentina, when the carriage ahead of them overturned.
She said she, her sister Maria Belen and baby Sophia Valentina and other passengers were trapped inside the train in ‘extreme heat’.
Angela said: “My five-month-old daughter, my sister and I were passengers on the derailed 14:24 Southern service from London Victoria to Eastbourne.
“My sister and I are Spanish nationals living here, and we were travelling back from London after visiting relatives. I was accompanied by my younger sister and my five-month-old baby, who I believe may have been the only baby of that age on the train.
“It was one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever lived through. I could think of nothing except my baby. I held her as tightly as I could and, thank God, she was not physically injured.
“We felt the train making extremely violent movements. We were one carriage away from the carriage that overturned, so we witnessed everything and felt the full force of what happened.
“The only difference was that our carriage did not overturn completely. However, it was left at such a severe angle that even trying to stand up was difficult.
“In that moment, with all the adrenaline, you do not feel any pain. My entire focus was on protecting my baby.
“Afterwards, we remained trapped inside the train in extreme heat. My baby was sweating heavily, and I did not know what else I could do to help her. The whole experience was so stressful that it affected my breast-milk supply, and everything became chaotic while we waited to be rescued.
“Eventually, the emergency services arrived and we were able to leave the train using a ladder. Everyone who assisted us was extremely kind and helped us throughout the evacuation, for which we are very grateful.
“It was an experience that neither my sister nor I will ever forget.”
Angela added that since the derailment, she has experienced ‘intense anxiety, fear and trauma’.
She added: “My sister has suffered physical pain, including problems with her sciatica, and emotional distress.”