Boy, 13, dies in freak electrocution accident while taking photo on train in freight yard

The 13-year-old was playing near the railroad yard in Schwerte, Germany, when he was suddenly electrocuted

UPDATED APR 20, 2023

(Representational image - Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

SCHWERTE, GERMANY: A boy from Germany died after being shocked with 15,000 volts of electricity while snapping a picture on a train in a freight yard. The 13-year-old was playing near the railroad yard in Schwerte, Germany, when he was electrocuted. Around nine o'clock on Monday night, railroad workers saw a flash of light at the location and alerted authorities.

Rescue teams attempted to save the youngster after turning off the overhead electric lines that power the trains. He was rushed to the hospital with serious burns all over his body and couldn't be saved. Federal police had previously issued warnings that said: "Electricity is able to jump the air and reach the ground in an arc through the body," as reported by The Sun.

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Train hit and dragged two children

In another tragedy, a train hit and dragged two children in the German town of Recklinghausen at the beginning of February, leaving one of them dead and the other in critical condition, as reported by Times Now News.

Another nine-year-old was reportedly seriously hurt and rushed to a hospital, where he is fighting for his life. Both boys are from Recklinghausen, according to a police spokesperson. Police acknowledged that more teenagers were involved in the collision but did not provide any additional information.

Although it's unclear how the accident occurred, local media reported that around 35 firefighters and rescue personnel were sent to the disaster scene, which was close to a former freight yard. Rescue workers were looking for victims while scouring the trackbed with drones, as per reports.

'It's just horrible'

"It's horrible," said Herbert Reul, North Rhine-Westphalia's interior minister, to reporters. He said, "Children and trains and at such a young age, it's just horrible what happened here, and one can only hope the parents will have the strength to overcome this great misfortune," as reported by Reuters.