UK - Lazy Woman's Train Near Miss

[John Ashworth]

Lazy Woman's Train Near Miss
Sky News
7:11pm UK, Thursday July 17, 2008

Shocking footage of a woman being narrowly missed by a train after she decided to cross live tracks between platforms instead of using the footbridge.

The woman (top right) crosses the track while the man (bottom left) watches the train come in. Seconds later she is helped onto the platform by the man in front of her.

She was inches from being hit by the oncoming train when she found she couldn't climb up onto the platform.

A member of the public saved her life by pulling her up and out of the way of the train with just seconds to spare.

The woman was also lucky not to touch the live rails which carry 750 volts of electricity.

British Transport Police released the grainy CCTV footage in a bid to track down the woman and warn others to stay off the tracks.

Pc Graham Cottington said the woman not only endangered her own life, but the lives of several others at Abbey Wood station in south east London.

"One of the disturbing things about the footage is that the woman could have easily used a footbridge and still managed to catch her train on time, however she opted to jump on the tracks, run to the other side and was then unable to get up onto the platform.

"A quick thinking member of the public came to her aid and managed to pull her up and away from danger just seconds before a train arrived.

"This scenario could have ended in a double tragedy had the woman accidentally pulled the innocent member of the public onto the tracks while he was trying to help and just imagine what it was like for the driver of the train, who would have been powerless to do anything to avoid striking her."

Anyone who recognises the woman should call 0800 40 50 40.