An Australian schoolboy has been left seriously injured after being struck by a train on Monday afternoon.
The Year Seven pupil from St Aloysius College is in a critical condition after a horrific accident at North Melbourne Railway Station.
The young student was hit by the train at around 4pm after his backpack became entangled between carriages.
He was then dragged several metres along the platform before becoming trapped beneath the train.
Dozens of commuters witnessed the distressing scene unfold, including fellow pupils from the boy's school.
Emergency services rushed to the station to free the trapped child, who sustained serious injuries in the incident.
Fire and Rescue Victoria deployed hydraulic jacking equipment to lift the train carriage and extract the boy from beneath it.
A team of eight paramedics attended to the boy at the scene before he was rushed to the Royal Children's Hospital.
Doctors are now treating him for severe trauma to both lower legs.
The headmistress of St Aloysius College contacted families via email following the traumatic event.
She wrote: "At approximately 4pm today, we received reports that one of our Year Seven students was involved in an accident at North Melbourne Train Station."
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The headmistress said specific details about the circumstances and the pupil's condition remained limited.
"Events like this can be deeply unsettling for our young people," she added.
"Please be mindful of your child's wellbeing this evening."
Counselling services have been made available to emergency personnel who responded to the scene.
Metro Trains confirmed that Craigieburn line services were suspended on Monday evening, causing knock-on delays to Werribee and Williamstown routes.
The incident comes just weeks after a 22-year-old man died at a separate Melbourne train station following a "savage" stabbing attack on March 6.
Emergency crews rushed to Mernda station after receiving reports of a physical altercation breaking out between teenagers.
Three teenagers - aged 16, 17 and 18 - have been charged with murder in connection to the incident.
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