People power: Commuters helped free a man who got his leg stuck between a train and a platform. Picture: Renae Bryant
FOOTAGE of passengers pushing against a Perth train carriage to free a trapped commuter has made headlines around the world.
News reports in the US, Europe and India have all shared footage of the rescue which saw dozens of passengers help out a fellow train user who fell into the gap between the train and the station platform.
The Public Transport Authority shared the video of the rescue yesterday after the commuter’s leg got stuck at Stirling Station about 8.50am causing a delay for the city-bound train.
Since then the footage has been viewed more than 80,000 times on PerthNow.
Nicolas Taylor said he and fellow passengers got off the train and worked together to free the man by pushing against the carriage away from the platform.
The train moved on its suspension enough for the man to get out from the sticky situation.
“He was walking so he was reasonably OK,” Mr Taylor said.
“He seemed to be a bit sheepish, because right where he fell was the ‘mind the gap’ writing.”
Mr Taylor said Transperth staff coordinated the incident well with it only taking about 10 minutes.
“They did a really good job, they took control and handled it well,” he said.
“When I first saw it I thought we’d be there for hours.”
People push a train to free a stuck commuter at Stirling station. Picture: PTA
Transperth spokesman David Hynes said station staff alerted the driver so the train did not leave the station.
“Our staff were within metres of the man when it happened and immediately went to his assistance,” he said.
“After ensuring that the train would remain stationary they organised for passengers to alight and coordinated their efforts to tilt the train carriage away from the platform so that the man could be rescued.
“The man was freed safely and we handed him over to emergency services. We understand he was not badly injured because he stayed at the station and boarded a later train to the city.
“Despite the station meeting the latest accessibility standards in terms of the gap between platform and train, somehow his leg managed to slip in between.”
Mr Hynes also thanked the passengers involved in the rescue.
“We hear a lot about poor behaviour on public transport,” he said.
“It’s really great when something like this happens and people work together to help a fellow commuter.”
source: perthnow.com.au
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