Miracle rail smash escape

The family of a 23-year-old Shropshire man has hailed his survival as a "miracle" after the tractor he was driving was hit by a train travelling at 60mph.

Steven Butler was airlifted to Wrexham Maelor Hospital with serious head and chest injuries and a fractured wrist following the incident at Weston Rhyn level crossing in Station Road.

Despite the tractor sustaining "enormous" damage when it was struck on Saturday, at about 4.50pm, villagers said Mr Butler was able to pull himself free of the wreckage before receiving medical attention at the scene.

A hospital spokesman said Mr Butler, who lives on a farm just outside Weston Rhyn, would hopefully be going home today.

Joyce Butler, his mother, said: "It's a miracle and we just want to thank everybody who helped out at the scene. We are just so grateful he is still alive.

"We have had lots of wellwishers which we are grateful for and Steven is in a stable condition in hospital."

The 3.33pm Arriva Trains Wales service from Birmingham New Street to Chester, had just left Gobowen when the crash happened.

The train driver was also taken to hospital and treated for shock. One of the 17 rail passengers was treated for neck pain, while another - a doctor based at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital - assisted at the scene.

Station Road was closed yesterday as Network Rail workers repaired damaged barriers.

British Transport Police and West Mercia Police are investigating the incident and the level crossing will be manned for the next few days until new barriers are installed.

Murray MacGregor, West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman, said: "The damage to the tractor was enormous. The fact the man is alive is astonishing."

The British Transport Police said the train had been travelling at 60mph and, although the driver applied the emergency brakes, he had not been able to prevent a collision.

Rachel Blackman, Network Rail spokeswoman, said: "Everything is now back to normal. We started running trains on Sunday morning but at slower speeds.

"The first train was the 9.45am from Chester. Normal work resumed last night at 10.22pm." Replacement bus services were in place on Saturday night.

By Peter Kitchen