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Shocking moment elderly man faints on railway track as train approaches

This is the terrifying moment an elderly man collapsed and toppled over onto a western Sydney railway track, moments before a train was due to arrive.

In CCTV footage obtained by 7 News, the man can be seen swaying, then falling from the busy platform, around lunchtime.

Brave commuters, who were waiting on the train platform at Rhodes, are seen in the video risking their lives by jumping on the track to try and help the man.

An elderly man collapsed and toppled over onto a western Sydney railway track, moments before a train was due to arrive. Source: 7 News
An elderly man collapsed and toppled over onto a western Sydney railway track, moments before a train was due to arrive. Source: 7 News

They gather around the man and wave their hands to signal the train driver, who thankfully was able to stop in time.

Paramedics soon arrived and nobody was seriously hurt.

While authorities have commended the onlookers for showing extraordinary courage, they say jumping on to tracks to help fallen commuters could have caused multiple fatalities.

“You make that reaction to try and save someone’s life, but you’ve got to consider the other things around you which could put you at risk,” Sydney Trains CEO Howard Collins told 7 News.

Brave commuters risked their lives by jumping on to the track to try and help the man, while signalling the train driver to stop in time. Source: 7 News
Brave commuters risked their lives by jumping on to the track to try and help the man, while signalling the train driver to stop in time. Source: 7 News

“I would hate to think if another train came the other way it could have been more serious.”

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance agreed. He advised anyone who might come across another fallen commuter to first seek help from railway station staff before jumping onto tracks.

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