Tram driver relives rock attack horror

Sean Vella was injured after a huge rock was hurled through the front window of his tram

A Metrolink driver has spoken of the 'biggest shock of his life' after a huge rock was hurled through the front window of his tram, sending glass flying into his face.

Sean Vella was left with chest and facial injuries following the horrific incident in May and has not returned to work since.

He appeared on the BBC's Crimewatch to appeal for witnesses after the rock was thrown through his cab window, hitting him in the chest and sending shattered glass into his face.

The rock was hurled from a footbridge, just north of the Derker Metrolink stop, at around 9.40pm on 8 May.

Sean managed to activate the driver safety device, before passing out from shock.

He woke up to passengers knocking on the cab door and he managed to steer the tram to the next station with some help.

An ambulance was waiting at the next stop and Sean was rushed to hospital.

He is still suffering from the psychological effects of the incident and has not returned to work.

Sean said: "I didn't actually see anything happen, just a white flash of glass explode out of the windscreen. Every thought in my head escaped my body. It was literally the biggest shock of my life.

"The glass went everywhere in the cab. It hit my face. I saw the hole in the windscreen and I knew the pain in my chest. I felt like I had just been pinned to the chair by the impact and it was just pain radiating through my body.

"Last thing I remember was landing in the glass and hearing the alarm of the driver safety device activating."

He added: "Physically I feel beaten. I'm just constantly sore, not sleeping well.

"Psychologically, there's quite a lot of fear. Just nervousness - I don't feel comfortable going into the tram cab.

Danny Vaughan, Transport for Greater Manchester's head of Metrolink, said: "I am astonished that someone has thought it acceptable to throw a rock from height towards an oncoming tram.

"This one reckless action has injured the driver and left him, understandably, very shaken.

"Make no mistake the consequences could have been much worse, not only for the driver for but the passengers on board.

"We condemn such behaviour in the strongest possible terms and are working closely with the police, operator and other partners to tackle problems of anti-social behaviour along the line."

Anyone with information is asked to police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.