UPDATED: Man released on bail after Pokesdown bridge fall (From Thisisdorset)

UPDATED: Man released on bail after Pokesdown bridge fall

9:30am Monday 3rd September 2012 in Latest By Katie Clark and Arron Hendy

A WOMAN was heard screaming moments before she plunged from a bridge and hit the railway line at Pokesdown yesterday morning.

Police arrested a 25-year-old Hampshire man on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident at Pokesdown Station around 10am on Sunday. He was bailed on Sunday evening.

The 20-year-old woman from Bournemouth suffered serious arm, leg and pelvic injuries after she fell around 30feet onto the tracks below.

She is in a critical condition at Southampton General Hospital.

Lennie Knott from Southbourne was on the platform when the woman fell.

She said: “A woman and a man were having an argument on the bridge. We didn’t see her fall but she was screaming.

“She was still screaming when she was on the tracks. It was awful. She seemed to be conscious when the paramedics brought her up.

“We all stayed down there. No-one really knew what to do.”

Kamil Sowa from Bournemouth was on his way to the Tesco Express in Christchurch Road when he saw two people arguing.

“I was with my daughter and didn’t want her to hear what was happening so we were rushing along. They were shouting at each other very loudly.”

Freda Potter, who had been waiting for a train to London to see the Paralympics, said she heard a loud noise as they were on the platform.

“We heard a flash – it must have been about 10am.

“It was a loud noise like a crack. We didn’t see anything or hear anything before.”

Dorset Police along with members of British Transport Police were at the scene and closed the road outside Pokesdown Station for a short time while they dealt with the incident.

Part of the bridge, including the footpath, was cordoned off and both northbound and southbound lines were temporarily closed.

South West Trains organised alternative transport for passengers.

A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: “BTP officers were called to the line close to Pokesdown railway station on Sunday following a report of a woman falling from a bridge.

“Paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service also attended and the woman, believed to be in her twenties, was removed from the tracks and taken to Southampton General Hospital.

“It is believed she has sustained arm, leg and pelvic injuries as a result.

“The line was handed back to Network Rail at 11.03am.”

Police investigating how the woman came to be on the track are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 101 quoting incident number 2:194 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.