Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Watch: Dramatic moment grandfather leaps into path of speeding train to save baby girl

Both granddad and grandchild were lucky to escape with their lives

Aftab Ali
Tuesday 07 July 2015 10:52 BST
Comments
The grandfather leaps into action
The grandfather leaps into action

A grandfather is being hailed a hero after dramatic CCTV footage emerged of him risking his life by jumping into the path of a speeding freight train to save his granddaughter.

The 62-year-old man arrived at Wentworthville station in Sydney, Australia, to pay for a ticket, Nine News reports.

Not realising the platform had a slight slant, his 18-month-old grandchild’s buggy rolled away from him and crashed face-first onto the train tracks.

In a matter of seconds, he is seen rushing and jumping onto the tracks, lifting the child and stroller back up onto the platform to her grandmother and mother – only to realise that a freight train is racing towards him.

Watch the dramatic footage:

Unable to climb back up onto the platform himself, the train blows its horn in warning and the man can be seen racing for his life down the tracks.

He finally makes it to the top of the platform – with seconds to spare – as the train zooms by.

Speaking with Nine News, acting inspector Paul Reynolds, summed-up the incident in just a few words: “Baby – very lucky. Grandfather – just as lucky.”

A statement issued by police after the accident said the toddler suffered cuts to her forehead and knees, as well as some swelling, but that she was quickly released from hospital.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in