This Morning spoke to one of the passengers who was onboard the derailed train in Lewes, East Sussex, on Thursday12:23, 14 Aug 2026Updated 12:46, 14 Aug 2026A This Morning guest shared their panic after being onboard the derailed train in Lewes, East Sussex, on Thursday afternoon.‌A major incident was declared by British Transport Police (BTP) after three carriages derailed on their side, trapping passengers on board the Southern train near Lewes on Thursday afternoon.‌Around 150 people had been on board the service travelling from London Victoria to Eastbourne, which was evacuated. Two people were taken to major trauma centres with "severe" injuries following the incident with a total of 20 people going to hospital.‌On Friday's This Morning, hosts Rochelle Humes and Joel Dommett spoke to one passenger, Tracy McGregor, who was on the train, as she recalled the terrifying incident. An on-screen banner read 'I thought I was going to die'.Tracy said via a live video interview from her family home in Eastbourne that she was travelling in one of the rear carriages, which tipped onto its side as it came off a track.‌The guest said: "I felt completely fine last night. I was just relieved it was all over and I was back home with everyone. And then I'm waking up this morning and I was quite surprised the shaking. I was just still really shaking and I still feel, you know, it's still very real to me the after effects of it all. I'm just overwhelmingly relieved more than anything."Tracy explained that she had been shopping in London and she typically drives when travelling from Eastbourne but decided to get the train as she thought it would be "easier".She said: "We were about three quarters of the way back. Actually, before that, the train had come to a standstill and for whatever reason there was a delay. And maybe the thinking was that they were trying to make up some time, so it was going quite quickly.‌"You know sometimes when the train hits a bump on the track and it kind of throws you a bit and you go. I really don't like that feeling. Then that's what happened yesterday."It was an enormous bump and then the train just flew right over, I was travelling backwards, it slid right over to the left and then countered that with an absolutely huge counter to the right and then slammed off the track and onto the ground. The train just carried on moving. I was going backwards.‌"It just carried on travelling and travelling and travelling. It felt like for ages and just honestly during those moments, just thought there's going to be a mighty crash and goodness knows how this is going to end, but I didn't think it was going to end well. Put it that way."Tracy said she just got into the "crash position" and "waited for it to end", adding: "It eventually just did come to a standstill and then there were a few seconds when everyone just quiet and still and kind of, what was that? What on earth? And then of course the hysterics erupted."The passenger said everyone remained stunned for a while before some brave fellow passengers got up onto the roof, which was actually the doors and the windows due to the train being on its side, and they managed to open the doors so people could escape.‌Tracy said: "Everybody sort of reached down and we were climbing up, you know the handrails that are normally vertical were actually on horizontal so we were able to get a foot on and climb up and then get lifted up and out of the train that way and then we had to crawl along the top of the train and then down to the very back of the train and then again more people were there ready to catch and then people were just sort of funnelling off."But of course quite a lot of people weren't able to do the climbing and to get out so they were stuck on the train and some people were injured and there was quite a lot of blood and people had suitcases all flying around and you can imagine it's just carnage really."‌Tracy, who thankfully didn't need any kind of medical support, said she's just suffering with shock now and added: "In terrible things, lovely moments happen and a lot of us sort of sat together and there was a lot of hugging and a lot of thank God. You know, we really felt blessed that we were alright, it was a miracle really."It comes as a train boss has said that the railway is safe in hot weather after the Southern Rail service derailed in East Sussex and 20 people went to hospital.John Whitehurst, chief executive of Greater Thameslink Railway, said derailments are "incredibly rare", adding that what happened "was a very serious incident and I’m deeply saddened by it".‌Mr Whitehurst told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: "A full investigation is now under way with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and at this stage we’re working with them to ensure we can establish the cause but also support their investigation fully."Obviously, the railway through that area is closed and we have specialist teams on site assessing the train and the infrastructure. I’m really sorry for the disruption that’s caused.”Asked if the railway was safe in hot weather, Mr Whitehurst said: "The railway is safe. These types of incidents are incredibly rare. We have control processes in place that involve inspection, temporary speed restrictions or even suspending services if that’s required."Article continues belowThis Morning continues on weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV X.