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Incredible story of a 30-year-old New Jersey woman who saved her own life after her leg was severed in a bizarre train accident

  • Lisa Fitzgerald lost her leg early last month when she slipped on train tracks
  • Her leg was immediately severed when she was hit by the last carriages of a train
  • She was running to the train when she slipped and fell through a gap



A New Jersey woman saved her own life after her leg was severed in a train accident – while other passengers ignored her cries for help.

Lisa Fitzgerald, 30, clung to the wall of a train platform after she was struck by a New Jersey Transit train at the Morristown station on May 5.

Fitzgerald was running to catch the train to New York City when she tripped and fell through the gap onto the tracks as the train pulled into the station.

Her leg was severed “instantly” when she was hit by the last carriages of the train while people at the station ignored her cries for help.

Speaking to Fox News, Fitzgerald recalled: “It was a pretty crazy time. I ran to catch the train, tripped and slipped through the gap.”

Fitzgerald had been running to catch the train to New York City when she tripped and fell through the gap onto the tracks as the train pulled into the station
In an interview with Fox News this morning, she said her leg was amputated “immediately” after the fall.
Fitzgerald clung to a platform wall after being hit by a New Jersey Transit train at Morristown Station (seen here)

She continued: “My leg was immediately severed, I was thrown around and landed on my stomach, facing backwards.

“I saw the next wheels of the train rolling towards me, so I rolled to the side and pressed myself against the platform wall.

“I looked around a bit and saw that my leg was broken. I thought maybe my foot was broken and had to take off my shoe.

“Aside from the fact that it was really just bumps and bruises, I started screaming for help to the people waiting for the train.

“After a few minutes of no one coming to help, I thought I have to find a way to get off those tracks.”

Using all his strength, Fitzgerald managed to pull himself up onto the edge of the platform and to safety.

She continued ‘I kept screaming for help until a conductor came over and I caught his attention.

“He went out, I kept screaming, he found a police officer who came to help and called for backup, and from there I went to the hospital.”

Fitzgerald had been running to catch the train to New York City when she tripped and fell through the gap onto the tracks as the train pulled into the station
Fitzgerald attempted to bandage her own leg with her T-shirt before officers arrived to her aid.
Fitzgerald was called the “Miracle of Morristown” because she survived the accident, which occurred just two weeks before her 30th birthday.

Fitzgerald attempted to bandage her own leg with her T-shirt before officers arrived to her aid.

She was taken to the hospital and treated, but her leg could not be sewn back on. A GoFundMe campaign set up by her sister has now raised over $103,000.

She added: “Nobody called 911, I didn’t find out until the next day. I have a nurse and I’m doing physical therapy at home. I’m not completely on my own yet.”

“I felt pretty good. I smiled the whole time and tried to process everything.”

Fitzgerald, one of eight siblings, was called the “Miracle of Morristown” for surviving the accident, which occurred just two weeks before her 30th birthday.

Her stepmother, Stacie Weil-Fitzgerald, told Fox: “We decorated the hospital and had a big celebration for her.”

“And she’s in such a good mood. People have been so supportive with her GoFundMe campaign and have been so great. That really makes us feel good.

“She’s incredible. She never stopped smiling.”