Lancashire Train driver reveals horrific injuries after brick thrown at window
Ian Birch was blinded after his train collided with a brick travelling at 70mph
Last updated 12th Apr 2022
A train driver from Lancashire has shown us the horrific injuries he sustained after somebody threw a brick in front of his moving train.
Ian Birch, who works for Northern was travelling between Greater Manchester and his home in Blackburn when out of nowhere his train struck the hurled object.
He was left with severe cuts to his face and eyes and temporarily blinded after the incident, which happened as the train travelled at 70mph on Friday, 4 February.
Miraculously, Mr Birch was able to bring the train to a halt safely and praised the response of a doctor travelling on-board who was able to administer immediate first aid.
Despite appeals for information from Northern and British Transport Police, no arrests have yet been made.
Speaking now that he has returned to work, Ian Birch said:
“I want the people who did this to see the impact of their actions. I could have been blinded or even killed.
“Someone knows who threw that brick and I urge them to come forward to help ensure the person responsible doesn’t have the chance to endanger more lives with their reckless behaviour.”