The man, in his 40s, was overseeing a nine-carriage train carrying freight when the accident happened. Emergency crews freed him from under the train.

Mark Samuels, fire officer in charge at the incident, said: "It appears the man slipped underneath the carriage as he was seeing back the train."

The firefighters recovered his limbs in the hope that surgeons can save them.

A police and Office of Rail Regulation investigation is now under way to establish the cause of the accident.

See also:

Legs go in rail horror

Daily Mirror: 23/08/2007

Doctors were yesterday battling to sew back the severed legs of a rail worker who fell under a train.

The man, in his mid-50s, was working in a siding when he slipped on the wet track and stumbled under a moving wagon.

Shocked workmates at Harlow Mill station, Essex, raised the alarm and the man was taken to hospital along with his severed limbs which had been recovered by firemen.

A brigade spokesman said: "The cut was clean so the legs were taken with the casualty to hospital in the hope they may be able to sew them back on."

Health and Safety and police are investigating.

See also:

Worker 'stable' after losing legs:

BBC News: 23 August 2007

Hospital staff have been unable to save the lower legs of a railway worker who was injured in an accident in Essex.

The man, in his 40s, was overseeing a freight train in sidings close to Harlow railway station on Wednesday.

Fire crews at the scene said it appeared he slipped under the train, and his limbs were recovered.

Surgeons at Harlow's Princess Alexandra Hospital were unable to save his legs and he is in a stable condition, a hospital spokesman said.

A police and Office of Rail Regulation investigation is under way to establish the cause of the accident.