
A young boy received a nasty injury after being hit by an electric shock as he crossed a railway track in a bid for a new life.

The migrant was one of thousands who made their way through Macedonia in hope of reaching western Europe.

The kid was carried across the tracks, with burns seen on his legs and blood running down his face from his head. He lay on the ground, helpless, as medics crowded round to treat him.

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Migrants carry an injured friend hit by electricity as they wait the train heading to the Serbian border at the train station in Gevgelija, Macedonia

The migrant was one of thousands who made their way through Macedonia in hope of reaching Western Europe. The kid was carried across the tracks, with burns seen on his legs and blood running down his face from his head

The boy looked helpless lying on the ground while doctors treated him for his injuries. He was hit by an electric shock as thousands of people tried to stake their claim on the 'migrant express' in Macedonia

Armed with knives, sticks and rocks, desperate migrants battled each other to board an overcrowded train as they frantically try to make their way to a better life.

The men – some of whom appear to be young teenagers – are fighting for a place on what has been dubbed the ‘migrant express’ in Macedonia.

The brawl erupted after almost 1,000 exhausted men, women and young children crammed on to a platform at the train station in the southern town of Gevgelija today.

Attack: A man brandishing a stick charges at a group of men as a brawl erupted over a place in an overcrowded train heading to the Serbian border at the train station in Gevgelija, southern Macedonia

Brawl: The man wields his weapon as an opponent prepares to try and strike him with what turns out to be a knife as those who have managed to board the crowded train look on

Vicious: The man has a stone flung at him during the fight. The town is a transit hub for migrants near the border with Greece

Evasive action: The man ducks as a stone is thrown at him. Those who miss the train are left disappointed and face another night without shelter

Terror: A man flees as another brandishing a knife heads towards him. Migrants are desperate to leave Macedonia country as quickly as possible as its new asylum laws mean that those entering illegally have only three days to leave before they can be arrested and jailed

With rows of people packing out the rubbish-strewn platform in the town's train station, fights broke out, knives were brandished and sticks and stones thrown as men fought each other to get on board.

One man even suffered an epileptic seizure and friends had to carry him to safety and douse his head with water in heartbreaking scenes.

Landlocked Macedonia in the Balkans nation is a major transit route for those from the Middle East and Africa who have crossed over from Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. They then go on to Serbia en route to more prosperous western European countries.

The migrants are desperate to leave the country as quickly as possible as its new asylum laws mean that those entering illegally have only three days to leave before they can be arrested and jailed.

After waiting for hours for the train to arrive, the migrants frantically clambered to get on board and make the five hour journey to the Serbian border.

But many are left disappointed and face another night without shelter as well as the risk of arrest in the country which human rights groups have branded the ‘worst place’ in Europe for migrants.

A group of men brandishing knives and throwing huge rocks fought with each other in a desperate bid to get onto the already heaving train.

Packed: The rubbish-strewn platform at the station in Gevgelija is thronged with migrants waiting for trains, hoping not to have to spend another night camping out

Desperate: Migrants pile on to a train, with some trying to force their way through windows as the doors are blocked

Hurry: A mother holds the hand of her young son as they run together along the track to try and board a train

Danger: Families make their way across tracks as a train approaches. At least 25 people were killed by trains between January and June alone as they walked on railway tracks

Crush: Migrants cover the tracks of the dilapidated station waiting for a train. The numbers entering Macedonia have tripled since last year with 2,000 to 3,000 people trying to enter the country every day

The hard way: These people are among thousands who have escaped countries like Syria and Afghanistan with no or few belongings

Time out: A group of men recline in the shade of a freight carriage as they wait for the next train to take them onwards in their journey to western Europe

Taking stock: Families rest in the shadow of freight wagons. Gevgelija has become a hub for thousands of migrants who have crossed over from Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria

Get back: A Macedonian police officer tries to keep order as people push and shove in a desperate attempt to board a train

One young man waved a wooden club at the group as they attempted to the board the train while other migrants including young children watched on from its windows and the station platform.

Macedonia’s asylum law change has already resulted in a series of fatal incidents involving migrants following dangerous routes to avoid arrest.

At least 25 were killed by trains between January and June alone as they walked on railway tracks.

The desperate people are among thousands who have escaped countries like Syria and Afghanistan with no or few belongings.

They have risked life and limb and often paid huge sums of money to people smugglers to make the perilous trek this far.

The chaotic scenes have become a daily occurrence in Gevgelija, which has become a hub for thousands of migrants who have crossed over from Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria.

The numbers entering Macedonia have tripled since last year with 2,000 to 3,000 people trying to enter the country every day, according to the interior minister Mitko Cavkov.

Desperate measures: A migrant who finds the door blocked tries to climb in through a window, shoving his bag through first

Help: A man who collapsed following an epileptic seizure has his head doused with water by friends in the high heat

Concern: Men offer scarce water to their friend who has passed out. The migrants hope to go on to Serbia, possibly with the help of people smugglers, and have to avoid being caught and sent back across the border

Support: The man who collapsed is carried by his friends. Groups of migrants were waiting hours to try and board the five hour train to the Serbian border

Falling apart: Migrants pictured through the shattered window on one of the overcrowded trains out of Gevgelija

They hope to go on to Serbia, possibly with the help of people smugglers, and have to avoid being caught and sent back across the border.

Once they reach northern Europe, the migrants are likely to give themselves up and then begin the asylum process. Many will stay in Germany, while some hope to reach the UK and continue on to Calais.

Hungary is building a 13ft high fence along its border with Serbia, in an effort to stop the rising flow of migrants – some 54,000 have already crossed into the country this year so far.

The figure is expected to hit 130,000 by the end of 2015 - up from about 43,000 in 2014 and 2,150 in 2012.

EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Thursday the world is facing its ‘worst refugee crisis’ since World War II and Europe has to do its part to solve it.

‘What we must do and the (European) Commission has done it, is to organise our system in order to face this problem in a decent, civilised and European way,’ he added.