Watch as officer pulls man from tracks just before train arrives in New Jersey

Police officer is praised for averting disaster with act of heroism

A New Jersey Transit police officer is being hailed as a hero for pulling a man from train tracks in northern New Jersey.

Authorities say Officer Victor Ortiz explained how he followed the man he saw exiting a train at Secaucus Junction as the man jumped on to the tracks.

Mr Ortiz says the man kneeled down on the tracks as a train was about a half-mile away.

He grabbed the man who kept saying “I just want to die,” and Mr Ortiz eventually was able to pull him off the tracks just as the train was coming into the station.

NJ Transit officials say they couldn't be more proud of Mr Ortiz and hope it reminds people what police officers do every day.

Local travellers said they were amazed by the officer’s heroics.

“He struggled with it, too. He struggled with it. He was really trying to get him off and it was not easy,” Tom Munzer told CBS. “He put his own life in danger right there. He put his own life in danger and he deserves a lot of recognition.”