Industrial accident causes injury to engineers

Three railway engineers have been taken to hospital they fell from a raised platform on to train tracks.

The men were injured while repairing overhead lines near to Ingatestone, Essex at about 2pm, Network Rail said.

Train services between London Liverpool Street and East Anglia were disrupted following the incident.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "The three men fell between 15ft and 20ft from an elevated platform, which appears to have failed."

Paramedic Chris Allen, of the East of England Ambulance Service, said: "One man had suffered head and chest injuries and another suffered minor leg injuries.

"A third patient, approximately middle-aged, suffered head injuries and chest and leg pain and was flown to Queen's Hospital, Romford."

Network Rail said an investigation had been launched and the work suspended. The men were part of a team repairing a one-mile stretch of overhead cables, which fell on Monday night.

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David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "Falls from height are a major source of injuries from industrial accidents.

"Employers have a duty to provide suitable plant and machinery and ensure such equipment is properly maintained.

"I represent many people who have been injured in accidents at work involving falls from height."