Victoria Police still working to identify man hit by train last month

Police remain stunned about the identity of a man more than a month after he was struck by a train in Melbourne’s inner north.

A train struck the man as it was moving at a slow rate between Royal Park and Jewell railway stations in Brunswick at about 6:33pm on July 7.

However, he suffered significant head injuries, and hospital staff did not initially expect him to survive.

Transit Safety Division Senior Constable Dean Pilati said the man had since woken up, but the extent of long-term injuries was unknown.

“He is conscious and stable, however he is non-communicative,” Senior Constable Pilati said.

“[Medical staff] don’t know the extent of his injuries, in terms of his brain damage, or how he’s going to progress from here.”

The man is described as between 65 and 75 years of age, with no distinct identifying features such as tattoos or scars.

He is described as Caucasian, about 175cm tall, and of medium build. He has a prominent mole below his left eye.

It is unknown exactly what the man was wearing at the time of the incident, but it included black runners with white soles, black socks and a black belt.

Man only able to utter a few words

Police said the man had only been able to mutter the words “Roy” and “Ryan”, but they were unsure if the names referred to family or the man’s own name.

The man has also been able to say the word “Coburg”, leading police to believe he could be from the suburb.

Police have cross-referenced the names with internal databases and conducted doorknocks with potential matches in order to discern the man’s identity, with no success.

Fingerprints and DNA analysis have also failed to shed any light on the man’s identity.

Due to long periods of unconsciousness and a tracheotomy procedure, the man had been unable to communicate with police.

Senior Constable Pilati said the man remained largely non-communicative.

“We’ve tried to do some prompt cards to try and have him spell out words. He’s unable to do that,” he said.

“The hospital have tried to get him to respond by gripping his hands but they’ve been unsuccessful with that as well.”

Police said there were no witnesses to the incident besides the train driver.

A canvas of CCTV footage produced no results, nor did outreach to local homeless support services.

Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the man is from overseas, explaining the lack of information available.

Police have also explored the possibility that the man may be from a nursing home, but no missing persons reports have emerged from any nursing homes.

Senior Constable Pilati said police were eager to find support for the man.

“If I was in that position, I’d want my family around me, and if I were that person’s family I’d want to be there to support him as well,” he said.