Dramatic moment shows hero station worker pull man from tracks inches in front of train

Tim Baker5 November 2019

This is the dramatic moment a man was pulled back onto a platform by a hero station worker just inches in front of an oncoming train.

The man had fallen onto the tracks in Oakland, near San Francisco in California on Sunday.

John O'Connor, who has worked for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) for 24 years, was helping control crowds after an American Football game.

In video footage he is seen hugging the man who fell just moments after pulling him from the tracks.

The man who fell was reportedly intoxicated at the the time and "accidentally miss-stepped" as the train approached. He was taken to hospital for a checkup.

Speaking at a press conference after incident, Mr O'Connor said: "There really was no time to make a decision.

"I just looked and it just happened. It's really awkward to be called a hero.

"That's what we're supposed to do. We're all human beings and life is precious.

"It seemed a lot slower than it actually happened [on video].

"He came to the side, I figured he wasn't going to make it so I grabbed him and pulled him up to the platform.

"That's what we do. We got foreworkers, train operators, station agents who deal with this on a daily basis. We preach safety, and we practice it."

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