A South Essex woman was abandoned in a locked train after falling into a diabetic coma.

Susan Kelly was left unconscious in railway sidings for around four hours after suffering the insulin-induced coma, which can be fatal.

It was during her journey home from work from an accountant's firm in London that Miss Kelly, 33, of Oak Walk, Leigh, was taken ill.

When she came round she discovered she was in the sidings of Southend Victoria station. She said: "I then drifted in and out of consciousness for some time. When I had recovered sufficiently I tried to get out of the train but found the doors would not operate.

"I had no idea where I was or what time it was. Eventually the train began to move and was taken back to Southend Victoria station, and I could then open the doors."

Shaken and stunned Miss Kelly felt unable to use a train for several days and was forced to take time off work as a result of the incident.

She said: "At first I felt disbelief that I had been left on a train. Now I go through swings of being angry, to being distressed, to being emotional.

"When I step on a train it does cross my mind if I will be able to get off the other end."

Her father, Southend councillor Brian Kelly is demanding an explanation from Great Eastern Railways on how Miss Kelly was allowed to be left.

He and his wife were frantic with worry after she failed to turn up for dinner at their home that evening.

They had telephoned Great Eastern and the British Railway Police to ask if they knew of her whereabouts.

Mr Kelly said: "Insulin-induced diabetic comas are life-threatening conditions if not quickly reversed. It is fortunate that the consequences were not more serious than they currently appear to be.

"My daughter was suffering from a common medical condition which was clearly indicated by her bracelet and identification card, yet she was left in railway sidings."

Great Eastern yesterday apologised and said it would investigate the incident.

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