Fellow students of an American youth killed in an accident at Palmerston North railway station have cut short their visit to New Zealand.
Ian Seagar Phillips, 17, of Austin, Texas, slipped and fell between a departing train and the platform at 5.25 pm on Tuesday after running in an attempt to reboard the train.
He belonged to a group of 63 students and seven adult supervisors who had arrived in New Zealand earlier this month and were due to fly out on Sunday.
But some had decided to return home early as a result of the accident.
Police said many were distraught and had been offered counselling.
Police, Tranz Rail and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission are investigating.
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