Passers-by save man who fell on railway line in Hull

A man was saved by passers-by after he fell on to a railway line in Hull as a train was approaching.

The incident happened at the St George's Road level crossing on Wednesday afternoon.

One of the rescuers, Karl Shannon, said he was sat in the queue of cars when he saw "an elderly gentleman struggling to cross the crossing".

"He tripped over and fell on the train tracks just as the gate was coming down," Mr Shannon said.

He was one of a number of people who got out of their vehicles and clambered over the barriers to help the man who was laid on the train tracks unable to get up.

Mr Shannon said a signal operator must have spotted the incident as the crossing gates were raised allowing them to get the man to safety.

"We managed to get him out just as the train was coming past," he said.

"If nobody was there to assist him he would have been hit by the train, there is no two ways about it."

Mr Shannon said the man appeared not to be injured and was "not fazed by it in the slightest".

Network Rail said safety was its top priority.

"If the yodels at a level crossing start to sound while you're on it, do not panic or rush, make your way safely off the crossing. If you are less than half way across, it may be safer for you to return to the start of the crossing," a spokesperson said.

"Our signallers will only allow a train to pass through when they can see that a level crossing is clear of people, vehicles, or other hazards or blockages."

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