Latest news with #SarahdeLagarde
ITV News
2 days ago
- ITV News
Mother who lost arm and leg in 'devastating' Tube accident takes TfL to court
Sarah de Lagarde, who lost an arm and leg after falling on the train tracks and being hit by a tube, talks ITV News Reporter Jay Akbar as she takes TfL to court A mother, who lost an arm and leg after falling on the train tracks and being hit by a tube, says she is "terrified" every time her daughters get the Underground, as she takes Transport for London to court. In September 2022, Sarah de Lagarde, 47, slipped on a platform at High Barnet station, in north London, and fell down the gap between the train and the platform. After being hit by two separate trains, she was taken to hospital and had to have an arm and a leg amputated, and now uses two prosthetic limbs. She tells ITV News London it had a "devastating impact" on her life, with her husband and children becoming her carers. While the payment claim is large, she says she would "trade anything to get her limbs back". Mrs De Lagarde is bringing a legal claim against London Underground Ltd (LUL), which is part of Transport for London (TfL). The first hearing in the case was held at the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday for breach of duty. Speaking to ITV News London, she said she was bringing about the action as TfL is not doing enough to make the underground safe. She said: "I really think that this is a bigger issue than just my case. This is affecting millions of commuters. "I have two daughters who are of age to use public transport. I am absolutely terrified every time they go because I know the risks they're taking and I know that safety is a real issue. " At the preliminary hearing, Judge Roger Eastman said an eight-week trial would likely take place at the beginning of 2027, with a further hearing due to take place in September this year. He also said: 'I appreciate this is a very high value claim, potentially, and very serious claim.'James MacDonald, representing Mrs De Lagarde, told the court the case was 'not an ordinary personal injury case'. In written submissions, he said the issues the trial judge will have to decide include whether LUL was in breach by not having a system in place to ensure that the Platform Train Interface (PTI) is monitored as passengers are getting off a train at a terminus station. Another issue is whether LUL 'was in breach by virtue of its train operators not being trained to look for passengers on the tracks when entering a station'. Prashant Popat KC, for LUL, said: 'We recognise that this is a tragic case, and the claimant sustained some horrific injuries.' In written submissions, he added: 'The defendant denies these allegations. 'It also pleads contributory negligence. 'The parties are agreed that the case should proceed first towards a preliminary issue trial on liability. This would encompass breach of duty, causation and the issue of contributory negligence.' A TfL spokesperson said: 'We are responding to a legal claim brought by Sarah de Lagarde. It is not appropriate to discuss details of our defence while this case is ongoing. 'Our thoughts continue to be with Sarah and her family following this terrible incident, and we will continue to make every possible effort to learn from any incident on the Tube network. Safety is our top priority and we will always place it at the forefront of our thinking.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Mum loses arm and leg after slipping on station platform into path of two trains
A mum has shared how she 'miraculously' survived being hit by two trains after she slipped and fell from the station platform. Sarah de Lagarde was travelling home from work when the horrific incident unfolded. She was at the High Barnet tube stop in north London in September 2022 when she fell between the train and the platform. Two different trains then hit her before she was rushed to hospital. READ MORE: Drivers in England warned over new £5 daily charge 'which could last two years' Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to join Following the ordeal, the mum-of-two had an arm and a leg amputated. She now uses prosthetics and is bringing a legal claim against London Underground Ltd (LUL), which is part of Transport for London (TfL), for a breach of duty, The Mirror reports. Speaking of her ordeal, she said the one thing that breaks her heart the most is the fact she lost her "ability to hug my two young children with both arms." The first hearing in the case was held at the Royal Courts of Justice today (June 25). Sarah, 47, hailed it a 'significant milestone' in her 'journey towards justice', with LUL defending the claim. Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice following the hearing, she described the harrowing incident and the resulting impact it has had on her life. The mum said: "I was commuting home from work. I fell through the gap. I was run over and crushed by not one, but two London underground trains on the Northern Line. "Miraculously, I survived, but it cost me dearly – the first train took my arm, and the second train took my leg." She added: 'That night I also lost my mobility, my independence, my dignity and, above all, my ability to hug my two young children with both arms. 'Today, I stand before you not just as a survivor, but as a voice for change. "This afternoon's court hearing marks a significant milestone in my journey towards justice against Transport for London, and I am optimistic. "As we prepare for the full trial, I am not just fighting for justice for myself but for a safer, more accountable transport network for all.' Sarah said she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has not returned to using public transport since the incident. She added: 'I'm absolutely terrified.' At the preliminary hearing in London, Judge Roger Eastman said an eight-week trial would likely take place at the beginning of 2027, with a further hearing due to take place in September this year. He added: 'I appreciate this is a very high value claim, potentially, and very serious claim.' James MacDonald, representing Mrs De Lagarde, told the court the case was 'not an ordinary personal injury case'. In written submissions, he said the issues the trial judge will have to decide include whether LUL was in breach by not having a system in place to ensure that the Platform Train Interface (PTI) is monitored as passengers are getting off a train at a terminus station. Another issue is whether LUL 'was in breach by virtue of its train operators not being trained to look for passengers on the tracks when entering a station'. Prashant Popat KC, for LUL, said: 'We recognise that this is a tragic case, and the claimant sustained some horrific injuries.' In written submissions, he added: 'The defendant denies these allegations. It also pleads contributory negligence. 'The parties are agreed that the case should proceed first towards a preliminary issue trial on liability. This would encompass breach of duty, causation and the issue of contributory negligence.' Thomas Jervis, a partner at law firm Leigh Day, which is representing Sarah, added: 'This case is incredibly important and may have a profound impact on how London's transport network is operated in the future.'
Sky News
3 days ago
- Sky News
Sarah de Lagarde who lost two limbs in Tube fall hails 'significant milestone' as legal case progresses
A mother-of-two who lost her right arm and leg after being hit by two Tube trains has hailed a "significant milestone" in her "journey towards justice" as her legal case has progressed. Sarah de Lagarde, 47, suffered the injuries after falling down the gap between a train and the platform at High Barnet station in north London in September 2022. After being hit by two trains, she was taken to hospital and had to have the limbs amputated. She now uses two prosthetic limbs, including a bionic arm. Mrs de Lagarde is now bringing a legal claim against London Underground Ltd (LUL), part of Transport for London, and the case has reached the High Court. The first hearing was held at the Royal Courts of Justice for breach of duty. LUL is defending the claim. Speaking outside the court after the hearing, Mrs de Lagarde said the accident "cost me dearly". "That night I also lost my mobility, my independence, my dignity and, above all, my ability to hug my two young children with both arms," she said. "Today, I stand before you not just as a survivor, but as a voice for change. "This afternoon's court hearing marks a significant milestone in my journey towards justice against Transport for London, and I am optimistic." Mrs de Lagarde added that she is "not just fighting for justice for myself but for a safer, more accountable transport network for all". At the preliminary hearing, Judge Roger Eastman said a further hearing will take place in September this year before a full trial, likely at the beginning of 2027. Mrs de Lagarde previously recalled how she "screamed for help" after being hit by the first train. "There were no staff on that platform, and no one was watching CCTV," she said. "Twenty-two tonnes of steel crushed my limbs, and, if that wasn't bad enough, I remained on the tracks undetected until the second train came into the station, crushing me for a second time." 7:15 In written submissions to the court, Mrs de Lagarde's lawyer said the issues the trial judge will have to decide include whether LUL was in breach by not having a system in place to ensure CCTV on the platform is monitored as passengers are getting off a train. Another issue is whether LUL "was in breach by virtue of its train operators not being trained to look for passengers on the tracks when entering a station". A lawyer acting for LUL said: "We recognise that this is a tragic case, and the claimant sustained some horrific injuries." In written submissions, Prashant Popat added: "The defendant denies these allegations. It also pleads contributory negligence. "The parties are agreed that the case should proceed first towards a preliminary issue trial on liability. This would encompass breach of duty, causation and the issue of contributory negligence."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'My arm and leg were torn off by two trains - one thing breaks my heart most'
Sarah de Lagarde is taking London Underground Ltd to court for breach of duty when in September 2022 she slipped on a platform, leaving her with physical and psychological damage A mum-of-two miraculously survived being hit by two Tube trains on the London Underground after she slipped at a station, but says there's one thing that breaks her heart the most. Sarah de Lagarde was commuting home from work at the High Barnet stop in north London in September 2022 when she fell down the gap between the train and platform. She was then twice hit by separate trains before being rushed to hospital to have an arm and leg amputated. The 47-year-old now uses two prosthetic limbs and is bringing a legal claim against London Underground Ltd (LUL), which is part of Transport for London (TfL), for a breach of duty. Speaking of her ordeal, she said the one thing that breaks her heart the most is the fact she lost her "ability to hug my two young children with both arms." The first hearing in the case was held at the Royal Courts of Justice today (June 25). Sarah hailed it a 'significant milestone' in her 'journey towards justice', with LUL defending the claim. Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice following the hearing, she described the harrowing incident and the resulting impact it has had on her life. 'I was commuting home from work. I fell through the gap. I was run over and crushed by not one, but two London underground trains on the Northern Line. Miraculously, I survived, but it cost me dearly – the first train took my arm, and the second train took my leg," she said. The most heartbreaking effect of her amputations, however, is Sarah's inability to hug her children like she did before the incident. She explained: 'That night I also lost my mobility, my independence, my dignity and, above all, my ability to hug my two young children with both arms. 'Today, I stand before you not just as a survivor, but as a voice for change. This afternoon's court hearing marks a significant milestone in my journey towards justice against Transport for London, and I am optimistic.' She added: 'As we prepare for the full trial, I am not just fighting for justice for myself but for a safer, more accountable transport network for all.' At the preliminary hearing in London, Judge Roger Eastman said an eight-week trial would likely take place at the beginning of 2027, with a further hearing due to take place in September this year. He also said: 'I appreciate this is a very high value claim, potentially, and very serious claim.' James MacDonald, representing Mrs De Lagarde, told the court the case was 'not an ordinary personal injury case'. In written submissions, he said the issues the trial judge will have to decide include whether LUL was in breach by not having a system in place to ensure that the Platform Train Interface (PTI) is monitored as passengers are getting off a train at a terminus station. Another issue is whether LUL 'was in breach by virtue of its train operators not being trained to look for passengers on the tracks when entering a station'. Prashant Popat KC, for LUL, said: 'We recognise that this is a tragic case, and the claimant sustained some horrific injuries.' In written submissions, he added: 'The defendant denies these allegations. It also pleads contributory negligence. 'The parties are agreed that the case should proceed first towards a preliminary issue trial on liability. This would encompass breach of duty, causation and the issue of contributory negligence.' Speaking after the hearing, Sarah said she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has not returned to using public transport since the incident. She added: 'I'm absolutely terrified.' Thomas Jervis, a partner at law firm Leigh Day, which is representing Sarah, said: 'This case is incredibly important and may have a profound impact on how London's transport network is operated in the future.'
