Italian student fined 3,000 euros for pulling train emergency brake during panic attack

A 21-year-old university student in Tuscany has been fined 3,000 euros after pulling the emergency brake on a regional train during a severe panic attack. The incident occurred in June at the Chiusi railway station in the province of Siena.

The student, who studies statistics at the University of Florence, reported that she briefly boarded the stationary train to retrieve her mobile phone after leaving her belongings on the platform. When the doors closed unexpectedly, she suffered an acute panic attack and pulled the brake in an attempt to exit. Medical documentation confirmed she experienced acute stress disorder, tachycardia, and derealization.

The student's family and legal counsel have attempted to contact Trenitalia via certified email and registered mail to discuss the situation, but the company has reportedly not provided a response. The student has noted that Trenitalia has denied requests for a hearing or the possibility of paying the fine in installments.