Toddler dragged along street after legs caught in Melbourne bus

Published: 22:13, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 22:13, 13 August 2026 Shocking footage has emerged of the moment a toddler was dragged along a Melbourne street after his legs became stuck in a bus door. The boy, believed to be aged between three and five, boarded the bus in St Kilda alongside a man on June 5 at about 4.55pm. About 15 minutes later, the man and child attempted to disembark but the doors began to close. CCTV released this week as authorities work to identify the pair shows the doors shutting before the toddler was clear, trapping his legs as the bus drove off.  The man, who is believed to be the child's parent or guardian, can then be seen desperately clinging on to him as he tries to pull him free from the moving bus. Horrified passengers inside the bus soon realised what was happening and shouted at the driver to stop.  Public Transport Users Association spokesperson Tony Morton said the incident demonstrates the transport network must have stronger structural safeguards. 'This appears to be a case where things have just not really been attended to properly, and there's been a lapse in some of the basic safety there,' Morton told 9News. A boy was dragged along the road upside down after his legs became caught in the bus doors A man, believed to be the boy's parent or guardian, desperately clung to him as he tried to free the boy from the moving bus  Authorities have released the footage in a bid to help identify the pair Victoria's bus safety regulator has issued a call for the man, witnesses or anyone who helped the pair to come forward. 'At approximately 4.55pm, the pair boarded a southbound route 246 bus at the Swan Street and Punt Road bus stop in Richmond, stop ID 52558,' Safe Transport Victoria said in a statement. 'At approximately 5.10pm, the man and child got off the bus at the Waterloo Crescent/Barkly Street bus stop in St Kilda, stop ID 1110.' Bus operator Kinetic described the incident as distressing and said it has reinforced safety protocols with all drivers.  It comes just months after another Melbourne schoolboy was trapped in the doors of a bus and dragged along the road. Nathaniel, 12, was on his way to school in the city's south-east on 16 March when his bag and right arm became caught in the automatic bus doors.  He was dragged for about 350 metres down the street before the bus driver noticed, with the boy now traumatised by the ordeal, according to his mother Grace.  She said the only reason her son was freed was because the driver stopped at the next bus stop.  Anyone with information is urged to call Safe Transport Victoria on 1800 638 802.