Sarah de Lagarde had to have her right arm and leg amputated when she fell into the gap at High Barnet station – she couldn’t call for help because her phone wouldn’t recognise her injured face
A woman has recalled the horror moment her arm and leg were torn off when she fell into the gap at a Tube station.
Sarah de Lagarde had gone to catch a train on the Northern Line at High Barnet station in London. She was only there because she fell asleep before her stop in Camden, around eight miles away.
Sarah briefly stepped off the train then slipped while trying to get back on and she fell into the gap to the tracks. The train then left the platform, tearing off her right arm.
By this point, Sarah was already desperately injured with a broken nose and teeth from the fall and massive damage to her arm. Her injuries were made worse when another train came and ran over her right leg.
Sarah couldn’t call for help because of the injuries to her face, which meant the Face ID on her phone wouldn’t work. Her phone was also wet so she couldn’t open it using the passcode.
Sarah’s right leg and arm were amputated and she now has a bionic replacement. Her life-changing experience led to Sarah campaigning for people injured on the Transport for London (TfL) network.
She says she has been turned town for a meeting with London Mayor Sadiq Khan numerous times. This has left her frustrated and seeking an apology, but she also said her “only option left is a lawsuit”.
Sarah has launched legal action. She argues that safety failings led to her remaining on the tracks for 15 minutes despite shouting for help.
“’I will never step foot on the Tube again,” she told the Mail Online. “If it wasn’t safe when I had four limbs, it definitely won’t be safe when I have two. Nothing has changed. My limbs won’t ever grow back but I’m doing this for my children, for the commuters in London.”
Of her new life, Sarah said: “My day to day life has completely changed. I can’t drive, I can’t cook, I can’t work – I need help to do up a zip. Prosthetic limbs are so expensive – I was only able to afford mine through a crowdfunder. My life has been ruined.
“My children are taking care of me – I’m supposed to take care of them. They were 8 and 12 at the time. We’re still struggling as a family and trying to adapt as best we can.”
Nick Dent, Director of Customer Operations at London Underground, said: “TfL is responding to a legal claim which has been brought by solicitors on behalf of Sarah De Lagarde and I am not in a position to comment publicly further.
“However, our thoughts continue to be with Sarah and her family following the devastating incident at High Barnet station and we have offered her direct support through the Sarah Hope Line. Safety is our top priority and we continue to take every possible measure to learn from any incident and put in place appropriate improvements.”