A teenager's legs have been severed after he was hit by a train on the NSW mid-north coast.
The 18-year-old had both his legs cut off when he was struck at a railway crossing in Taree.
“The young man, unfortunately and it's tragic, he was celebrating his 18th birthday on that night,” said Inspector Christine George of Manning-Great Lakes Local Area Command.
Police believe he had earlier been celebrating his birthday at a nearby residence with family and friends.
Emergency services found the man on the tracks with his legs severed, at about 4.30am on Sunday.
He was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital in a critical but stable condition.
The male train driver, from Queensland, stopped the train soon after the accident and contacted emergency services.
Bystanders caused havoc for emergency services at the scene.
While police investigated the scene, a group of people threw rocks at them and the 33-year-old train driver.
“Two of my police did actually get hit by rocks and were forced to take refuge in the front carriage of the train with the train driver,” said Inspector George.
Officers were forced to take refuge in the train driver's cabin.
Ambulance paramedics were also blocked, pushed and verbally abused by the group during their initial attempts to treat the teen.
An ambulance vehicle was damaged after being hit by rocks.
Police called in reinforcements to disperse the group.
A crime scene has been established and investigations are continuing.
Police will also try to identify the people throwing rocks.
“Police will be continuing to investigate that because there are no excuses for that type of behaviour and where we can identify people who were responsible, we will be pursuing criminal charges,” said Inspector George.
The train driver was taken to Manning Base Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
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