by HEIDI HUMPHRYS

A GREAT Sankey couple had a lucky escape after two trains, packed with tourists, collided head-on near the Alpine resort of Interlaken in Switzerland.

Joan and John Parkin, of Sycamore Lane, were on board a train travelling between Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen last Thursday morning - heading for Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station - when it was hit by an on-coming train full of British Scouts and Guides.

Mr Parkin, 59, was thrown forward into a glass partition injuring his nose and forehead and Mrs Parkin, 55, who was travelling backwards, hurt her head and shoulder and was suffering from chest pains.

Mr Parkin said: "There were two trains travelling up the mountain because it was so busy and we were moved onto the extra one.

"The first train left on time at 9.35am and ours left around five minutes later.

"We originally thought our train had collided with the earlier one but then we were told that it was a train travelling down the mountain, that had stopped to call for help, that we hit."

The couple managed to get off the train, which had derailed but not toppled over and, in soaring temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit, they were ushered into a nearby barn.

Five helicopters were on the scene within minutes and ambulance crews tended to the 64 injured passengers before they were taken to six hospitals in the area.

The couple, who have a daughter, Sally, and two grandchildren, Samantha and Steven, were taken to Thun Hospital where Mrs Parkin was attached to a heart monitor.

After returning to their hotel on the Thursday evening and resting last Friday, Mr and Mrs Parkin decided to make the journey up to Jungfraujoch on Saturday.

Mr Parkin, who appeared on Swiss television reports of the crash, said: "Every noise we heard on Saturday made us more nervous and we were clinging onto our seats but it was well worth the wait."

Reports suggest that the driver coming down the single-track stretch had gone through a red light and couldn't see the approaching train due to large trees at the side of the track.