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Body of suicide jumper hurled by train into woman on platform

31 Comments

A woman in her 20s was injured when the body of a man who jumped in front of a train was sent flying into her while she was standing on the platform at a station in Ota Ward, Tokyo.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 8:35 p.m. Sunday at Zoshiki Station on the Keikyu line. Sankei Shimbun reported that station surveillance camera footage showed the man, who appeared to be in his 20s, jump off the platform onto the tracks in front of an express train. The impact flung him back up onto the platform, knocking the woman over.

Police said the woman suffered a head injury. The man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, police said.

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31 Comments
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I am very surprised that the insurance companies pay out on suicide, the crafty buggers in the UK only pay out so long as there is not a "Y" in the week, as we all know they find any excuse not to pay out!! Goldorak, yes your right there is some harsh comments here, but it is truth, this poor chap might have ended his suffering, but he has left a trail of problems in his wake.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That was really creepy!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The family must now pay for the train damages, psychological treatments of the train driver, the hospitalization of the young woman, etc. in addition to funeral expenses! The family of the man who committed suiicide is really in trouble. What a way to go!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Tony W., "Are there no organisations, even voluntary ones, in Japan that can be contacted by people in despair? I"

The main one I'm familiar with is Inochi no Denwa, with numbers to phone around the country and widely advertised.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Are there no organisations, even voluntary ones, in Japan that can be contacted by people in despair? It is not enough to just have these either, there needs to be public campaigns to advertise that they are there to help, and seemingly in Japan, also to stress that it is OK to ask them for help. In the UK there are "The Samaritans", In Victoria, Australia, there is "Beyond Blue", an organisation set up by an ex-State Premier who himself suffers from depression. This second one is particularly well advertised at intervals to remind the public that it is there. It is done to get depressed people, and men in particular, to not suffer in silence. It also makes it clear that family members, friends, and workplace colleagues can watch out for the symptoms in others, and can offer help and point sufferers in the direction of those who can help. Clearly this is one way of approaching he problem that Japan could usefully adop.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I have a friend here in Kobe who is a Japanese policeman. He says that train jumper suicides "often" (his word choice, not mine) leave suicide notes telling the world they are choosing to punish their family by causing JR to bill them for the damages. Why? Because their family has not been supportive during their troubles. True or not, I don't know.

This is the opposite of financial suicides (killing yourself to leave insurance money for your family), which often happens in late spring as people are fired/replaced at the start of April. (And Yes, most life insurance in Japan will pay for your suicide death, as long as you pay for at least two years after getting the policy.) Most financial suicides don't jump, unless they are sure their insurance will cover the bill AND leave money behind.

Morbid, but there you are.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Jump at the far end of the platform — that way nobody has to see it, except the unfortunate driver.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Peoples do not traumatise others. Go to a forest and hang yourself. Have some respect.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

According to the late night TV news on Mon, this case was even worse (to my mind, anyway) because it was not his body that was flung into the woman, but part of his body.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You have to explain that to the whole nation, mostly to the city dwellers, Frederic Bastiat. The national mentality is undergoing a great change. A great wrecking, to be certain. They think that asking for help is a weakness, that no one is willing to help them not end their lives cowardly and that you can escape it all this way.This had been going for over four decades and it does not get better. Someone is now supposed to instituonalize an entity that monitors individuals behaviour for signs of suicidal thoughts, otherwise you might as well set up "Why suicide is bad" classes for the children to rise awareness, because otherwise they do not understand that it is bad. That part had fallen out of the national traditions somewhere along the way to achieving the status of a postindustrial society.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Any person committing suicide in such a way is very tragic. Of course, it's even more tragic that others are also injured physically and emotionally by such an act.

The better question is why do so many people see no other way but to choose to end their life? Wouldn't it be better to make a clean start?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If the guy has insurance, I hope the woman he hit gets paid first.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No strong structure for mental health care. Public stigma for seeking mental health care help. Fortune tellers and mystics often filling the role of mental health care professionals. Complete absence of work life balance for most people. And more.

Want suicides to stop?

Embrace mental health care as an acceptable and available option for people. This will reduce the numbers.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Not the first time this has happened. Disillusioned beat me to the reference of the most recent besides today's. this selfish man has spread his agony onto others. I'm glad the woman is not seriously hurt, and I just hope that mentally she's okay as well.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Omg, I would concern more about her mental than physical. If I were her, I would never forget the moment.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What do we have now? A burden on society and a traumatized mentally woman who did not want to take any part in someone's else "suffering". There are instituions to provide help if you really want it. If you do not want help and then end it this way you are a mere coward who does not respect a single decent value there is. Remember samurais? They did their suicidal rites with dignity. It was still a pity, but there was just some meaning behind it. This? This is a disgrace.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

It takes a good understanding of physics to get a clean kill out of jumping in front of a train and like many others have said it is a messy business for many others who have clean up the mess. There is nothing wrong with suicide but do it so that others aren't dealing with mess. Probably the best way is to rent a car and get some sleeping pills and a few charcoal burners. Easy does it. At least the family can have an open casket at the funeral.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Brian Wheway, The train drivers used to have three months off work and support for PTS. Years ago,I think its changed now but if a person jumped and caused a delay either way a fine was imposed of about 2/3 million yen. The individual who jumped if did not have the funds then his immediate family were required to pay.

This story is terribly sad for everyone involved.My deepest condolences for all those effected.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I'd like to see a little societal introspection:

Why are people suiciding?

What's the cost to society (and the economy) of these reasons?

Why are suicides' families and (more alarmingly) employers and creditors allowed to collect insurance?

Is this really how we want to continue?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Ending it ASAP doesn't mean waiting for a train. It's a sad look at me moment. Cos no one really cares.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Keep in mind that if you succeed then your poor family will get a huge bill from JR.

Not exactly. JR will bill the estate of the deceased, but the liability does not extend to the family beyond that.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Pretty harsh comments so far. If a person is in so much pain that he/she doesn't see any other option than death perhaps expecting/demanding that he thinks first about those who will have to 'clean up the mess' is a bit insensitive?

Would think that most ppl who choose to end their life don't want to hurt, either physically or psychologically, others but they are in such emotional distress that ending it all asap is all that matters.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

How desperate are you to kill your self? Keep in mind that if you succeed then your poor family will get a huge bill from JR. If you in despair then try talking to someone.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Why not just jump into an active volcano if you wanna off yourself? Selfish sucidal people, no you have a traumatized woman and train delays! Just selfish!

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

See this is a problem with those sick suiciders. Zero awareness of the consequences of their immature behaviour. Society-Madness 0:1.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

Killing your self is one thing, but, the mess that left in the wake of some one jumping in front of a train is quite selfish, in some cases what about the poor train driver, does he get help with dealing with this traumatic event?, what about the poor maintenance crew that have to wash the underneath and front of the train, and the damage that is done to the front of the train who pays for that? the inconvenience thats caused to other train users, and in this case this poor woman who gets knocked over and is hospitalised.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Jeez a nightmare scenario. Poor woman.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Poor woman. :( Must be injured badly both physically and mentally.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

There was a similar incident at Shin-Koiwa station three years ago. A woman jumped in front of an express train and was thrown into the kiosk on the platform putting five other people in hospital.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Sad story all around. Poor woman will probably be traumatized for life.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

That is really scary.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

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